Amateur-built BENSON accident near Hearne, Texas, July 20, 1990
On July 20, 1990 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BENSON (gyroplane), registered N70136, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hearne, Texas (Hearne Muni 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE TAIL WIND CONDIITONS DURING A LOW PASS WHICH EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR WAS THE TAIL WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1990 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hearne, Texas · Hearne Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BENSON
- Registration
- N70136 · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE TURNED DOWNWIND TO MAKE A LOW PASS IN FRONT OF THE CROWD AND THAT DURING THE PASS HE GOT 'BEHIND THE POWER CURVE' AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. HE FURTHER STATED THAT EVEN WITH FULL POWER APPLIED HE COULD NOT KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM SINKING AND THAT THERE WAS 'MODERATE TO SEVERE' TURBUELENCE IN THE AREA.
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: 59 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 59 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 562 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 4318 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T72 at 8:55 pm
- Destination: T72
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N70136 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.