Amateur-built AVENGER GYRO PLANE and amateur-built VARIEZE accident near Shelbyville, Illinois, July 22, 1985
On July 22, 1985 at about 8:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built AVENGER GYRO PLANE (N2260N) and amateur-built VARIEZE (N67EZ), were involved in the same accident near Shelbyville, Illinois (Shelby CO. airport). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- July 22, 1985 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Shelbyville, Illinois · Shelby CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built AVENGER GYRO PLANE AVENGER GY
- Registration
- N2260N · no longer on the register · serial FM-1-2000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built VARIEZE
- Registration
- N67EZ · no longer on the register · serial 1187
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built AVENGER GYRO PLANE final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GYROPLANE WAS RUNNING UP ON THE END OF THE RWY WHEN THE VARIEZE LANDED ON TOP OF HIM, STRIKING THE ROTOR SYSTEM. THE VARIEZE FLEW A NON-STID FLT PATTERN & DID NOT MAKE A RADIO CALL IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built VARIEZE final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GYROPLANE WAS RUNNING UP ON THE END OF THE RWY WHEN THE VARIEZE LANDED ON TOP OF HIM, STRIKING THR ROTOR SYSTEM. THE VARIEZE FLEW A NON=STD FLT PATTERN & DID NOT MAKE A RADIO CALL IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN.
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 for the amateur-built AVENGER GYRO PLANE from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 218 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 218 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 169 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1985; 20 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:40 pm from DEC, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built VARIEZE from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 330 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1985; 2 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEC Decatur IL at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.