# NTSB SEA78FYE20: Bensen G-1D, N777GD, Tacoma, WA, April 28, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 28, 1978
- Place: Tacoma, WA · TACOMA, WA
- Location: 47.2529° N, 122.4443° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tacoma, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2529&lon=-122.4443&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142766
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78FYE20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FYE20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0695  78/4/28    TACOMA,WA           BENSEN G-1D         CR-  1  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 25, 35 TOTAL
        TIME - 1400                    N777GD              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SOUTH TACOMA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TACOMA,WA                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        REMARKS- ACFT NOSED OVER ON DOWNWIND LEG & CRASHED ALMOST INVERTED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N777GD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777GD-1982-10-18), registration cancelled 1982-10-18, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BENSEN G-1D
- Registry model: [Dubois G-1D](https://openairdocs.org/model/dubois-g-1d) (registry code 1302741) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: South Tacoma

## 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 19780428007569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780428007569A), Apr 28, 1978: Schzow MODELB, Tacoma, WA, Destroyed. Acft nosed over on downwind leg & crashed almost inverted.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.