Amateur-built B-8M accident near Siler City, North Carolina, July 5, 1995
On July 5, 1995 at about 2:18 pm local time, a amateur-built B-8M (gyroplane), registered N70216, was substantially damaged in an accident near Siler City, North Carolina (Blair Field). 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 MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE GYROCOPTER WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF A ROTORCRAFT OR GYROCOPTER CERTIFICATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1995 · about 2:18 pm local time
- Place
- Siler City, North Carolina · Blair Field · 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
- N70216 · no longer on the register · serial 880730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TAXIED TO RUNWAY 04 AND STARTED HIS TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE GYROCOPTER USED ABOUT 2500 FEET OF THE RUNWAY FOR THE TAKEOFF. THEY REPORTED THAT THE GYROCOPTER BOUNCED ON THE RUNWAY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. AS THE GYROCOPTER MADE A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN, ONE WITNESS SAW PIECES OF THE GYROCOPTER FALLING FROM THE AIR. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONING, AND MAIN ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE RUDDER CONTROL SURFACE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. A REVIEW OF WEATHER DATA REVEALED THAT CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT'S QUALIFICATIONS INDICATED THAT THE HE WAS NOT ROTORCRAFT OR GYROCOPTER RATED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 220 hours in all; 9 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1994; 8 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 43181A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 16,000 ft; scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from GSO, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under N70216 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 ATL95LA129.