Benson B8M accident near Libby, Montana, October 16, 1983
On October 16, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Benson B8M (gyroplane), registered N4415W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Libby, Montana (Libbt 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
- October 16, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Libby, Montana · Libbt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Benson B8M
- Registration
- N4415W · registry record · serial 15007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES DURING A TAKEOFF AND DESCENDED INVERTED TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD NOT INTENDED TO FLY A PATTERN BUT MERELY TAKEOFF AND LAND IN A MODIFIED HIGH SPEED TAXI RUN. BUT ON THIS LAST RUN HE RAN OUT OF RWY AND DECIDED TO GO AROUND THE PATTERN. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT SO HE REDUCED POWER AND THE ACFT SETTLED INTO THE TREES.
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
- Flight time: 11 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 54 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 21, 1983; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch O-100-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Libby MT at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.