Amateur-built B-8M accident near Holly Ridge, North Carolina, October 10, 1992
On October 10, 1992 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built B-8M (gyroplane), registered N3777R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Holly Ridge, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OPERATE THE FLIGHT CONTROLS PROPERLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1992 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Holly Ridge, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B-8M · all B-8Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3777R · no longer on the register · serial 14908641
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S FATHER, THE PURPOSE OF THE OPERATION WAS TO TEST AND BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE GYROCOPTER'S FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS AFTER THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED. THE PILOT'S FATHER FOLLOWED THE AIRCRAFT ON THE LONG RUNWAY AND OBSERVED THE GROUND TEST AS THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL TOUCH AND GO TYPE MANEUVERS. AS HE APPROACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE, AND THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. THE AIRCRAFT INITIALLY CLIMBED OVER THE TREE LINE ON THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND WAS LAST SEEN DESCENDING BELOW THE TREE TOPS. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT HAD 917 HOURS OF HELICOPTER FLIGHT TIME, BUT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF GYROCOPTER FLIGHT TIME.
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
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 917 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen CONVERSION (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from ILM, 60 miles away
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL93LA007.