Amateur-built ROTORCRAFT Z6 accident near Bennett, Colorado, March 12, 1983
On March 12, 1983 at about 7:40 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORCRAFT Z6 (gyroplane), registered N23104, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bennett, Colorado. 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
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
- March 12, 1983 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Bennett, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORCRAFT Z6 ROTORCRAFT
- Registration
- N23104 · registry record · serial 52552
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT GYROCOPTER CRASHED ON LEVEL TERRAIN AFTER RUDDER AND ROTOR BLADE SEPARATION IN FLT. THE RUDDER WAS FOUND ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. IT HAD BEEN STRUCK BY ONE OF THE ROTOR BLADES AND HAD SEPARATED IN FLT. THE SEPARATED ROTOR BLADE LANDED WITH THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE PILOT HAD NO RECORD OF PREVIOUS FLIGHT IN THIS GYROCOPTER OR ANY OTHER ACFT AND DID NOT POSSESS A PILOT CERTIFICATE. THE PILOT'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED AT IMPACT AND HE WAS FATALLY INJURED WHEN THROWN CLEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 2 CYCLE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bennett CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.