Amateur-built B-8M accident near New Braunfels, Texas, June 10, 1986
On June 10, 1986 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built B-8M (gyroplane), registered N632X, was destroyed in an accident near New Braunfels, Texas (New Braunfels airport). 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
- June 10, 1986 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Braunfels, Texas · New Braunfels · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B-8M
- Registration
- N632X · registry record · serial JM1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED OUT OF CONTROL AFTER THE ENG STOPPED DURING A LANDING APPROACH, THE ACFT HAD ALMOST COMPLETED THE 1ST PATTERN AROUND THE FIELD WHEN THE ENG STOPPED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A 1/4 INCH NYLON ROPE WRAPPED AND TIED AROUND THE ROTOR BLADE ABOUT 30 INCHES FROM THE TIP. THIS WAS A PART OF THE ROPE THAT THE PLT HAD USED TO TIE THE ROTOR DOWN WHILE THE ACFT WAS NOT BEING OPERATED. THE ROPE APPEARED TO HAVE SLIPPED DOWN THE BLADE FROM THE HUB AREA.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 4318A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 3R5 Fnew Braufels TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:30 pm from FSS
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.