Amateur-built BENSON B&M accident near Greencastle, Indiana, June 26, 1999
On June 26, 1999 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BENSON B&M (gyroplane), registered N2152G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greencastle, Indiana (Putnam County 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 failure of the cyclic control rod. Factors were aircraft control not possible for the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1999 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greencastle, Indiana · Putnam County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BENSON B&M
- Registration
- N2152G · no longer on the register · serial 216042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that the roll control was lost and while attempting to maneuver for a landing. He said that on approach '... about 200 ft and 400 yards from the threshold of the runway the first violent left bank occurred.' He said he applied controls to counter the bank and the gyroplane '... sluggishly started turning back to the right...' He said that he then began to nose the gyroplane down to gain some airspeed and at that point the engine suffered a loss of power. He said that about 50 feet above ground level, '... the machine made another violent roll to the left and nosed toward the ground.' He said opposite controls did not arrest the roll and the gyroplane impacted the terrain just left of the runway. An examination of the gyroplane subsequent to the accident found that the right cyclic control rod was fractured. The fracture was discolored with corrosion through 90% of the material All other mechanical anomalies were consistent with impact damage.
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: 130 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA81-TURBO (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4I7 at 12:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.