Amateur-built MARCHETTI 263MP accident near East Moriches, New York, June 2, 1994
On June 2, 1994 at about 4:00 am local time, a amateur-built MARCHETTI 263MP (gyroplane), registered N263MP, was destroyed in an accident near East Moriches, New York. 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 loss of control for undetermined reasons resulting in an uncontrolled descent and a subsequent collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1994 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- East Moriches, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MARCHETTI 263MP MARCHETTI
- Registration
- N263MP · 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
AN EYE-WITNESS LOCATED ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE, SAW THE GYROCOPTER ENTER A LEFT TURN AND DESCENDING SPIRAL. THE WITNESS LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IMPACT. THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROTORCRAFT ASSOCIATION REPORTED, '...[THE PILOT] STATED...THAT THE ROTORBLADES ON HIS MACHINE BECAME 'TWITCHY' AND MADE THE CONTROLS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE WHEN THE GYRO REACHED 55 MPH, AND THEREFORE HE DID NOT EXCEED 50 MPH....[THE PILOT] ALSO STATED TO FRIENDS...THAT HE HAD A 'HAIRY VIBRATION' AT TIMES AND COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE SOURCE OF THE VIBRATION....' THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED, '...THE AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED AT THE CRASH SITE...AND ALTHOUGH THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE COULD BE DETECTED....'
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: gyroplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EJ18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N2 NY at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from ISP, 17 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.
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.