Amateur-built GYROCOPTER B-80 accident near Suffolk, Virginia, May 10, 1986
On May 10, 1986 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built GYROCOPTER B-80 (gyroplane), registered N202M, was destroyed in an accident near Suffolk, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- May 10, 1986 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Suffolk, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GYROCOPTER B-80 GYROCOPTER
- Registration
- N202M · registry record · serial CWM001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO A PLT WITNESS THE ACCIDENT PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO COMPENSATE FOR AN INCREASE IN WIND VELOCITY WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE WITNESS STATED THE PLT ENTERED A STEEP DIVE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE INCREASE LIFT FOLLOWED BY THE GYROCOPTER BALLOONING DUE TO THE INCREASE IN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED FROM THE DIVE. THE GRYOCOPTER THEN NOSED OVER AND THE ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE RUDDER. THE GYROCOPTER THEN DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO GROUND IMPACT.
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
- Flight time: 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 24, 1986; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 4318G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Suffolk VA at 8:25 pm
- Destination: Portsmouth VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 17 knots, gusting 6
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.