# NTSB FTW87DRD06: Air Command 532, N532X, St.Francisville, LA, June 28, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 28, 1987, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: St.Francisville, LA
- Coordinates: 30.779914, -91.36959 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7799&lon=-91.3696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22200
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87DRD06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22200/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87DRD06

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - incapacitation(cardiovascular), pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE GYROPLANE FLYING AT 10-15 FEET AGL WHEN IT STARTED A TURN TO THE RIGHT. IT CONTINUED THE RIGHT TURN AND DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND. DR. MOORE OF THE FAA SW REGIONAL FLIGHT SURGEON'S OFFICE STATED THAT THE PLT HAD CORONARY DISEASE AND THAT HE WAS INCAPACITATED AND POSSIBLY UNCONSCIOUS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO A HEART ATTACK SUFFERED DURING THE FLIGHT. RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE PLT'S LAST MEDICAL WAS DATED AUGUST 16, 1984.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N532X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N532X-2014-12-24), registration cancelled 2014-12-24, S/N 091986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR COMMAND 532
- Registry model: [Crews Ken AIR COMMAND 532](https://openairdocs.org/model/crews-ken-air-command-532) (registry code 13027GH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 09-1986
- Airframe hours: 55
- Engines: ROTAX 532 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth Ray Crews
- Departed: LA30, NEW ROADS, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 142 total, 21 in this make and model, 110 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BTR, 30 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870628027369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870628027369A), Jun 28, 1987: Amtrac ELITE532, St Francisville, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The gyrocopter impacted the ground after a low pass near a farm tractor. Pilot may have suffered a heart attack.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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