Amateur-built B-80 accident near Amarillo, Texas, May 12, 1993
On May 12, 1993 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built B-80 (gyroplane), registered N42845, was destroyed in an accident near Amarillo, 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE TAILWIND
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1993 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Amarillo, 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-80
- Registration
- N42845 · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DEPARTURE FROM A LOCAL AIRFIELD THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT. THE PILOT POSITIONED THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING WITH A 22 KNOT TAILWIND THAT WAS GUSTING TO 28 KNOTS. DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED AT THE THROTTLE ARM. THE FAILED CABLE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO GO TO AN IDLE CONDITION
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,850 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 75 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1993; 25 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TDW at 10:30 pm
- Destination: TDW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 22 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.