- Date
- September 1, 1984, 18:03 local (Sep 2, 1984, 01:03 UTC)
- Place
- Murrieta, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8474Phaneuf B8 MOD Gyro
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840901049609A
- Case key
- 24024
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A witness observed the gyrocopter circle the aprt. On the second time around, it dropped down low on the downwind leg and disappeared behind a small hill. He also stated the eng was running at full power and that he could hear the rotor blades strike the ground when the gyrocoter crashed. No preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found during the investigation. Toxicological tests showed that the plt's blood/alcohol level was 0.110%.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8474
- Reported as
- Phaneuf B8 MOD Gyro (B8 MOD GYR)
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- SBP 1000
- Engine
- Mcculloch UNKNOWN, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Arthur Galdammer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- Murrieta, CA
- Airport
- Thompson
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Expired
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.