Amateur-built B-8-M accident near La Porte, Texas, March 25, 1989
On March 25, 1989 at about 4:12 pm local time, a amateur-built B-8-M (gyroplane), registered N9763N, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Porte, Texas. 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
HARD LANDING WHICH OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT HAVING TO EXTEND HIS GLIDE OVER OBSTACLES ON SHORT FINAL TO THE FORCED LANDING AREA. THE FORCED LANDING WAS EXECUTED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE DEGRADATION DUE TO INDUCTION ICING FOR WHICH NO PROVISIONS HAD BEEN MADE DURING THE INSTALLATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 1989 · about 4:12 pm local time
- Place
- La Porte, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B-8-M
- Registration
- N9763N · no longer on the register · serial 9587-2-8014M
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB THE ACFT SUSTAINED A LOSS OF POWER. THE STUDENT PLT HAD TO EXTEND THE GLIDE TO CLEAR OBSTACLES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. THE PLT STATED THE ENG RPM GRADUALLY DECREASED DURING THE CLIMB TO THE POINT THAT HE COULD NOT SUSTAIN FLT. THE ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS INDICATED THAT CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF VISIBLE ICE IN THE INDUCTION SYSTEM AT RATED PWR. THERE WAS NO OTHER SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LNDG.
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
- Ratings: rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1989; 10 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1800CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T-41 La Porte TX
- Destination: T-41
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,300 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from HOU, 11 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.