Mcculloch J-2 accident near Rush City, Minnesota, September 26, 1986
On September 26, 1986 at about 2:43 pm local time, a Mcculloch J-2 (gyroplane), registered N90563, was destroyed in an accident near Rush City, Minnesota (Rush City Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- September 26, 1986 · about 2:43 pm local time
- Place
- Rush City, Minnesota · Rush City Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcculloch J-2
- Registration
- N90563 · no longer on the register · serial 081
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER LIFT OFF, WHILE TAKING OFF WITH A TAIL WIND, THE PLT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL & DID NOT REALIZE THE GYROCOPTER WAS GOING INTO AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE DID NOTICE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE 'JUST GOT READY FOR THE CRASH.' HE DID NOT HOLD THE PROPER CERTIFICATE FOR THIS ACFT & HAD ONLY 7 HRS OF GYROPLANE EXPERIENCE.
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: 170 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 140 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 30, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 54Y at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 54Y
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft; not recorded at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from MSP, 40 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.