- Date
- May 24, 1992, 19:00 local (May 25, 1992, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Adelanto, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- UNREGWillis Homebuilt Gyrocopter
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 4, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 27625
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A loss of control for undetermined reasons.
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
The homebuilt gyrocopter was observed by to enter a steep low level turn over the el mirage dry lake after meeting an approaching motor vehicle. The witness stated that the gyrocopter nosed into the dry lake bed while in the turn. The pilot had built the gyrocopter from salvage parts. He had been flying gyrocopters since he was 15 years old. He had not received formal flight training in the aircraft. The pilot's toxicological examination showed 5.12 mg/l methamphetamine and 0.47 mg/l amphetamine in the heart blood.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Willis Homebuilt Gyrocopter (HOMEBUILT)
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Willis, William E.
- Registered owner
- Willis, William E.
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Lowest ceiling
- None