Amateur-built BENSEN B8M accident near Wayzata, Minnesota, February 20, 2000
On February 20, 2000 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built BENSEN B8M (gyroplane), registered N2436, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wayzata, Minnesota. It was a personal flight 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
the pilot's poor inflight planning in that he turned into a tailwind which resulted in diminished airspeed. Factors associated with the accident were the tailwind, low altitude maneuvering, the snow covered terrain, and the pilot's inability to successfully perform remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2000 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wayzata, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BENSEN B8M
- Registration
- N2436 · no longer on the register · serial BA42670
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The gyrocopter nosed over after impacting the terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering. The pilot reported he was practicing low level maneuvers at an altitude of about 200 feet above the frozen lake. He reported he made a left turn to the east and in doing so, he encountered a tailwind. He reported the gyrocopter began settling rapidly and he attempted to lower the nose to gain airspeed. He reported the main gear contacted the 8 inches of snow which covered the frozen lake and the gyrocopter nosed over.
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; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 710 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 2,650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 710 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 2000; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 580 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1785CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Medicine Lake MN at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from FCM, 10 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 N2436 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.