Amateur-built BENSEN GYROCOPTER accident near Macedon, New York, August 13, 2000
On August 13, 2000 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BENSEN GYROCOPTER, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Macedon, New York (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
pilot's failure to maintain control of the gyrocopter. Factors in the accident were the pilot's lack of total flight experience and familiarity with the gyrocopter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2000 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Macedon, New York · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BENSEN GYROCOPTER BENSEN GYR
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial GE-3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot had recently purchased the unregistered homebuilt gyrocopter, and was training himself how to fly. At first, the pilot made several low-altitude 'hops' down an airstrip, which built his confidence to make a full go-around of the airstrip. The pilot departed into the wind and climbed to an altitude of 30 feet before he turned to the left. Once he completed the left turn, the gyrocopter began to lose lift and descended over parked farm equipment. About 10-feet above the ground, the main rotor blades contacted a hay wagon, which sheared the main rotor and mast from the gyrocopter. The gyrocopter then came to rest inverted about 30-feet away from the hay wagon. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had been properly trained and was better educated about FAA regulations. There were no mechanical malfunctions.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from ROC, 16 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG 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.