Pilot Debrief

GIbb AR-1 near Hawley, MN — 2019-07-11

Final reportCEN19FA218
Sign in to save
Date
2019-07-11
Location
Hawley, MN, USA
Airport
04Y
Aircraft
GIbb AR-1
Registration
N14968
Category
Gyroplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

An in-flight loss of control and collision with terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the gyroplane departed on a local personal flight in visual meteorological conditions at an unknown time. Several witnesses saw the gyroplane descending straight down and impacting the ground near the departure airport. All major components of the aircraft were located at the accident site. No preimpact anomalies were noted with the gyroplane. The pilot had built the gyroplane from a kit about a year before the accident. As best as could be determined from his flight records, the pilot had received about 36 hours of flight instruction in the gyroplane. Autopsy and toxicology testing of the pilot revealed no evidence of physiological impairment or incapacitation, and the reason for the gyroplane's descent and impact with terrain could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot's medical certificate was not valid, indicating potential unfitness to fly.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 11 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents11

Related mishaps