- Date
- May 22, 1983, 10:52 local (14:52 UTC)
- Place
- Tavares, FL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- UNREGParson Bensen
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 30780
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
The gyrocopter descended to the lake in an uncontrolled maneuver and crashed. The plt was on his 2nd flt in the acft and had been told to limit his climb to 10-15 ft AGL by the builder of the gyrocopter. The plt climbed to about 400 ft AGL and the acft started to porpoise. During the 3rd oscillation the gyro turned over and fell into the lake. Witnesses heard the engine operating until impact. The acft impacted the water at a high angle of descent while in a left turn. The propeller blades were shredded upon impact. Wreckage examination revealed no evidence of failure or malfunction prior to impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Parson Bensen
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engine
- Mcculloch 100-1, 72 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald Verkins
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificate
- Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Observed at
- ORL