Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC 90 accident near Owasso, Oklahoma, September 16, 1994
On September 16, 1994 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC 90 (helicopter), registered N92RE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Owasso, Oklahoma (Gundy'S airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT. A FACTOR WAS THE STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1994 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Owasso, Oklahoma · Gundy'S · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTORWAY EXEC 90 ROTORWAY E
- Registration
- N92RE · no longer on the register · serial 5144
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING HOVERING. A LEFT YAW DEVELOPED AND THE INSTRUCTOR ADDED FULL THROTTLE AND RIGHT PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE LEFT YAW INCREASED IN SEVERITY. THE COLLECTIVE WAS LOWERED AND THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, SEVERING ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE AND BENDING THE TAILBOOM.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,457 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 6,363 as pilot in command; 2,943 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 63 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1994; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotorway RI 162 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OK16 at 7:30 pm
- Destination: OK16 OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 1,900 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.