Mcculloch J2 accident near Camden, Arkansas, October 27, 2004
On October 27, 2004 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Mcculloch J2 (gyroplane), registered N62SJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Camden, Arkansas (Harrell Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the engine exhaust stack for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2004 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Camden, Arkansas · Harrell Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcculloch J2
- Registration
- N62SJ · no longer on the register · serial 091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 605-hour rotorcraft pilot reported that during cruise flight the left rear exhaust stack from the pusher engine separated and struck the propeller. Subsequently, the pilot initiated an autorotation to a highway and landed the gyrocraft without further incident. Examination of the remaining portion of the exhaust stack by the pilot revealed that it had separated outboard of the flange.
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: rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 605 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 605 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 231 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 2003; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A20 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDH Camden AR at 4:21 pm
- Destination: AGO Magnolia AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.
Other NTSB records under N62SJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.