# NTSB OAK74DVM09: Bensen B8M, N3196, Salinas, CA, September 8, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 8, 1973
- Place: Salinas, CA · SALINAS, CA
- Location: 36.6902° N, 121.6338° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salinas, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6902&lon=-121.6338&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 13, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188497
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK74DVM09
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74DVM09

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2951   73/9/8    SALINAS,CALIF       BENSEN B8M          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 254
        TIME - 1500                    N3196               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 197 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PRIVATE RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALINAS,CALIF               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 LANDING: ROLL
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: HIDDEN HAZARD
        REMARKS- PILE OF DIRT 2FT HIGH AND 3FT LONG OBSCURED BY GRASS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3196](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3196-1989-11-15), registration cancelled 1989-11-15, S/N HU191713 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BENSEN B8M
- Registry model: [Hughes BENSEN B-8M](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-bensen-b-8m) (registry code 13007WL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Private Ranch

## 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 19730908030319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730908030319A), Sep 8, 1973: Amtr 1300761, Salinas, CA, Substantial damage. Pile of dirt 2FT high and 3FT long obscured by grass.

## Other investigations on N3196 (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA89LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA114), Jun 20, 1989: Hughes Bensen B-8M (N3196), The Dalles, OR, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOTS POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING LOW LEVEL FLIGHT IN A NARROW VALLEY DURING HIGH WIND CONDITIONS.

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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