Gyroflug SC01B160 accident near Mineral Wells, Texas, June 10, 1990
On June 10, 1990 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Gyroflug SC01B160, registered N3412L, was destroyed in an accident near Mineral Wells, Texas (Municipal airport). It was an other work-use 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
TOTAL PROPELLER BLADE RETENTION FAILURE, THE RESULTANT SEPARATION OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE, AND THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE PROPELLER BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 1990 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mineral Wells, Texas · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gyroflug SC01B160 · all SC01B160s on the register
- Registration
- N3412L · no longer on the register · serial S-46
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN MODIFIED TO BE FLOWN EITHER REMOTELY OR BY THE PILOT. TAKEOFF AND INITIAL CLIMB WERE PERFORMED BY REMOTE CONTROL AND CONTROL WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE PILOT TO POSITION FOR A REMOTE CONTROL LANDING. ANGLE OF BANK INCREASED PAST 90 DEGREES IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AT ABOUT 425 FEET AGL; THE PILOT TRANSMITTED THAT HE WAS 'GOING DOWN' SHORTLY BEFORE IMPACT. ONE OF THE THREE WOODEN PROPELLER BLADES SEPARATED FROM THE HUB AND WAS FOUND 1/4 MILE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE BLADE WAS ATTACHED TO THE HUB PRIMARILY BY 5 LAG SCREWS. THREADS IN THE WOOD BUTT OF THE SEPARATED BLADE WERE STRIPPED. THE 5 SCREWS REMAINED IN PLACE. LAG SCREWS IN THE REMAINING 2 BLADES WERE FOUND UNDERTORQUED. SEVERAL DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED REGARDING SPECIFICATIONS FOR PROPELLER BLADE ROOT AND SIZE, TOLERANCES, AND LAG SCREWS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,354 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 4,699 as pilot in command; 2,049 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 139 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 1990; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,576 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Observation at 1:10 pm from MWL, 4 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.