Amateur-built 532 COMMANDER accident near Washburn, Iowa, May 31, 1992
On May 31, 1992 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built 532 COMMANDER (gyroplane), registered N211CL, was destroyed in an accident near Washburn, Iowa. It was a personal 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE GRYOCOPTER DURING INITIAL CLIMB.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1992 · about 9:00 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Washburn, Iowa
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 532 COMMANDER 532 COMMAN
- Registration
- N211CL · registry record · serial RRR-2
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT SAW THE GYROCOPTER PORPOISE SEVERAL TIMES DURING INITIAL CLIMB. THEY SAW THE AIRCRAFT BANK STEEPLY TO THE LEFT UNTIL IT BECAME INVERTED THEN DESCEND INTO THE GROUND. ONE WITNESS WHO ASSISTED THE PILOT IN STARTING THE AIRCRAFT NOTED THE PILOT APPEARED TO BE NERVOUS BEFORE THE FLIGHT. HE ALSO NOTED THE TAKEOFF RUN SEEMED UNUSUALLY LONG. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED THE FLIGHT CONTROL CABLES AND HARDWARE TO BE INTACT. NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE AIRFRAME OR POWERPLANT.
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: 439 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 371 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1992; 1 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8C8 at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from ALO, 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N211CL on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 532 35 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Iowa 871 since 1982 · 131 in the last ten years
- Iowa 4,514 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI92DCD05.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.