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Accidents · NTSB FTW89DPA01 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Amateur-built J-BIRD accident near Mckinney, Texas, October 1, 1988

On October 1, 1988 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built J-BIRD (gyroplane), registered N151JS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mckinney, Texas (Aero Country airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 1, 1988 · about 5:00 pm local time · cases in 1988
Place
Mckinney, Texas · Aero Country · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Amateur-built J-BIRD
Registration
N151JS · registry record · serial 001
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS MAKING A HIGH SPEED TAXI TEST OF HIS GYROPLANE AFTER INSTALLATION OF A DIFFERENT ENG & PROP. HE SAID THE GYROPLANE ENCTRD A BUMP ON THE RWY WHICH CAUSED IT TO BECOME AIRBORNE AT ABOUT 35 MPH (TAKEOFF SPEED WAS 45 MPH). HE ADDED POWER TO SLOW THE DSCNT BACK TO THE RWY, BUT THE GYROPLANE BOUNCED EVEN HIGHER TO ABOUT 6' AGL. IT THEN CONTACTED THE RWY NOSEWHEEL FIRST, ROLLED OVER & SUBSEQUENTLY CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

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: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: gyroplane
  • Flight time: 1,603 hours in all; 149 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,511 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 164 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 1988; 24 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 17, 2,950 ft by 40 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 5 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW89DPA01.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.