Air Command CDR ELITE 532 accident near Paducah, Kentucky, February 1, 1987
On February 1, 1987 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Air Command CDR ELITE 532 (gyroplane), registered N2562, was destroyed in an accident near Paducah, Kentucky (Farrington Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 1987 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Paducah, Kentucky · Farrington Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Air Command CDR ELITE 532 CDR ELITE
- Registration
- N2562 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING LOCAL TRAFFIC PATTERN TRAINING, THE GYROPLANE UNDERSHOT RUNWAY 22 DURING AN ATTEMPTED LANDING. THE PLT WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH. THE INVESTIGATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY AIRCRAFT PROBLEMS. THE AUTOPSY REVEALED SEVERE CORONARY ARTERISCLEROSIS WITH FOCAL COMPLETE OCCLUSION OF THE LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING ARTERY, 75% NARROWING OF THE RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY, 50% NARROWING OF THE LEFT CIRCUMFLEX CORONARY ARTERY, AND INTRAMYOCARDIAL INTERSTITIAL FIBROSIS WITH SCATTERED HEALED MICROINFARCTS. THE PATHOLOGIST CONSIDERED CARDIAC ARRYTHMIA, IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE CRASH, TO BE HIGHLY PROBABLE. THE PLT HAD CORONARY BYPASS SURGERY IN 1983. HIS APPLICATION FOR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DENIED 9/16/84. THE PILOT'S CERTIFICATE AND MEDICAL FOUND AFTER THE ACCIDENT WERE FORGERIES ACCORDING TO THE FAA.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Flight time: 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.