Amateur-built DOMINATOR accident near Omaha, Nebraska, June 28, 2012
On June 28, 2012 at about 5:15 pm local time, a amateur-built DOMINATOR (gyroplane), registered N447PM, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Omaha, Nebraska (Millard Airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A nosewheel shimmy on takeoff, which resulted in the failure of the nosewheel landing gear and a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2012 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Omaha, Nebraska · Millard Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DOMINATOR
- Registration
- N447PM · registry record · serial 4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who was also the builder, was conducting flight testing on the newly built gyrocopter. He reported that he spun the rotor up to about 110 rpm and was attempting to accelerate the rotor to flight rpm by moving down the runway. The pilot added that he was going about 25 mph when the nosewheel hit a bump in the runway and started to shimmy. He immediately reduced the throttle to slow down; however, the nosewheel strut failed, and the gyrocopter turned left, rolled over, and came to rest on its right side. During the rollover, the rotor blades and fuselage sustained substantial damage.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff
- Roll over during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,132 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 3,132 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 25, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax UL582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMLE Omaha NE
- Destination: KMLE Omaha NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,801 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from KMLE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.