- Date
- February 16, 2008, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Pierce, FL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6232YStephen F. Graves SG-3
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20080216833239A
- Case key
- 67530
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
The failure of the student to maintain directional control during a cross wind takeoff. A factor in the accident was inadequate supervision by the CFI.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that during a go-around following a touch-and-go landing on runway 27 with the wind from 360 degrees at 15-20 knots, the gyrocopter drifted to the left. The CFI took control of the gyrocopter but the left wheel contacted a tire that bordered the south edge of the runway. The gyrocopter then yawed to the left and crashed into a canal. The CFI further stated there was no mechanical failure or malfunction.
Factual narrative
The CFI stated that during a go-around following a touch-and-go landing on runway 27 with the wind from 360 degrees at 15-20 knots, the gyrocopter drifted to the left. The CFI took control of the gyrocopter but the left wheel contacted a tire that bordered the south edge of the runway. The gyrocopter then yawed to the left and crashed into a canal. The CFI further stated there was no mechanical failure or malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6232Y
- Reported as
- Stephen F. Graves SG-3
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 008263995
- Airframe hours
- 700
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B21, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert F. Martian
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · April 1, 2007
- Departed
- FL67 · Fort Pierce, FL
- Destination
- FL67 · Fort Pierce, FL
- Airport
- FL67 · Evans Properties Inc Airport, runway 27, 3,000 × 36 ft, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,075 total · 334 in this make and model · 5,572 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 50
- Injuries
- Minor
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 15 total · 5 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- KOBE, 14 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.