Air Command ELITE 532 accident near Baytown, Texas, July 23, 1988
On July 23, 1988 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Air Command ELITE 532 (gyroplane), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N91359, was destroyed in an accident near Baytown, Texas (Mcalister 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
- July 23, 1988 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Baytown, Texas · Mcalister · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Command ELITE 532, amateur-built
- Registration
- N91359 · no longer on the register · serial 3672167
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO TAKEOFF AND TURN RIGHT CROSSWIND. DRNG THE CROSSWIND, THE RPM INCREASED SUDDENLY. THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE DOWNWARDS, IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A VERTICAL DESCENT AND BURNED. THE PLT/BUILDER HAD A TOTAL OF 5 HRS IN THE NEW ACFT. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT STRUCTURAL, ROTOR, OR SYSTEM FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE KITS FOR THE ACFT INDICATED THAT THE ACFT IS EASY TO OVERCONTROL AND CAN LEAD TO PORPOISING WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO CORRECT.
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: glider
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 7, 1987; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX 532 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from HOU, 22 miles away
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.