# NTSB NYC88DHM02: Air Command 532, Stormville, NY, September 26, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 26, 1988, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Stormville, NY
- Coordinates: 41.539123, -73.730133 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5391&lon=-73.7301&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35983
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88DHM02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35983/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88DHM02

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - qualification, pilot in command
  - inadequate training, pilot in command
  - flight control,rudder - failure,total
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACDNT OCCURRED AS THE NON-CERTIFICATED PLT WAS OPERATING THE NON-REGISTERED GYROPLANE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. WITNESSES HEARD A 'LOUD CRACK.'  THEY THEN OBSERVED THE GYROPLANE DESCENDING IN AN APPARENT UNUSUAL ATTITUDE.  THE GYROPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES, ADJACENT TO THE APCH END OF RWY 24 (APRX 240 FT SSE OF THE THRESHOLD).  SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CAME TO REST, NORTH OF THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT, BETWEEN THE TREES & THE EXTENDED RWY CENTERLINE.  PIECES OF THE RUDDER MOUNT WERE FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE THE GYROPLANE CAME TO REST; THE RUDDER MOUNT'S MODE OF FAILURE WAS NOT VERIFIED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AIR COMMAND 532
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engines: ROTAX 521 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bernard Wagner
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: N69, Stormville, runway 24, 3,320 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

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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