Amateur-built WINDRYDER accident near Mesquite, Texas, September 29, 1990
On September 29, 1990 at about 7:50 pm local time, a amateur-built WINDRYDER (gyroplane), registered N532BM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesquite, Texas. 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 POWER LOSS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION BY THE OPERATOR. A FACTOR WAS THE WIRE STRUCK DURING THE EMERENCY DESCENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1990 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Mesquite, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built WINDRYDER
- Registration
- N532BM · no longer on the register · serial 896008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 1,000 FEET AGL THE GYROPLANE OWNER/BUILDER/PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER LOSS. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT TO THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED POWER LINES AND VEERED LEFT TO AVOID TREES. THE ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A TELEPHONE CABLE RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCEND TO GROUND IMPACT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SPADE LUG CONNECTED TO THE IGNITION DAMPING BOX DISCONNECTED DUE TO IMPROPER CRIMPING, CAUSING LOSS OF IGNITION.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 143 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 45 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 1990; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNC Lancaster TX at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from DAL, 13 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.