Amateur-built AIR COMMAND 532 accident near Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, September 21, 1988
On September 21, 1988 at about 9:40 pm local time, a amateur-built AIR COMMAND 532 (gyroplane), registered N7015C, was destroyed in an accident near Cottage Grove, Wisconsin (Blackhawk Field). It was an instructional 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 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 21, 1988 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Cottage Grove, Wisconsin · Blackhawk Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AIR COMMAND 532 AIR COMMAN
- Registration
- N7015C · no longer on the register · serial 1908
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THIS AMATEUR BUILT GYROCOPTER EXPERIENCED A MAIN ROTOR STRIKE TO THE RUDDER AND PROPELLER. THE STUDENT PILOT WHO HAD A TOTAL OF EIGHT HOURS FLIGHT TIME, ALL IN THIS AIRCRAFT, WAS CONDUCTING A SOLO FLIGHT IN THIS DUAL CONTROL GYROCOPTER. HE RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES DURING THE IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP AND IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE FLIGHT MANUAL INDICATES 'THE PILOT MUST HAVE AT LEAST 50 HOURS OF SOLO FLIGHT TIME LOGGED IN A COMMANDER GYROPLANE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FLY THE 532 COMMANDER DUAL SEAT GYROPLANE...'
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: student
- Flight time: 8 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; scat
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from MSN, 7 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.