Amateur-built RAF 2000 GYROPLANE accident near Conroe, Texas, July 10, 1997
On July 10, 1997 at about 1:05 pm local time, a amateur-built RAF 2000 GYROPLANE, registered N6826Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Conroe, Texas (Montgomery County airport). It was an instructional 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 maintain aircraft control. A factor was his premature liftoff at low airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 1997 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Conroe, Texas · Montgomery County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RAF 2000 GYROPLANE RAF 2000 G
- Registration
- N6826Z · no longer on the register · serial H2-93-4-96
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff on the pilot's third solo flight in the amateur built gyroplane, the gyroplane lifted off at low airspeed and yawed left. According to the pilot, he over corrected with right rudder and then left rudder, and the gyroplane nosed over and impacted the ground. Witnesses observed the gyroplane lift off, enter a steep right bank, and fall to the ground. The pilot, who held a private pilot certificate with single and multi-engine land ratings, purchased the gyroplane in June 1997. He had received 15 hours of dual instruction and accumulated 1.8 hours of solo flight time in the gyroplane prior to the accident.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 560 hours in all; 17 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 730 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA82 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXO at 1:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,984 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.