# NTSB NYC79FGT02: Gyrocopter JW-1, N4280, Smoketown, PA, October 22, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 22, 1978
- Place: Smoketown, PA · SMOKETOWN, PA
- Location: 40.0362° N, 76.2045° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Smoketown, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0362&lon=-76.2045&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139140
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC79FGT02
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FGT02

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3501  78/10/22   SMOKETOWN,PA        GYROCOPTER JW-1     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 28, 0
        TIME - 1550                    N4280               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GLICK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SMOKETOWN,PA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNQUALIFIED PERSON OPERATED AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- M/R BLADE STRUCK TAIL.FLT LASTED APRX 10MIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4280 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GYROCOPTER JW-1
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Glick

## 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 19781022034199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781022034199A), Oct 22, 1978: Amtr 13007, Smoketown, PA, Destroyed. M/r blade struck tail. Flt lasted aprx 10MIN.

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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