Miller Barnet J4B-2 accident near Manville, New Jersey, May 26, 2002
On May 26, 2002 at about 2:24 pm local time, a Miller Barnet J4B-2 (gyroplane), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N8121M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manville, New Jersey (Dummy 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 improper flare prior to touchdown. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in aircraft type, make, and model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2002 · about 2:24 pm local time
- Place
- Manville, New Jersey · Dummy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Miller Barnet J4B-2, amateur-built
- Registration
- N8121M · no longer on the register · serial 368-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the gyrocopter had conducted several touch and go's on the runway. On his last approach, he aligned the gyrocopter with the grass apron, and elected to continue on his heading to land on the grass adjacent to the runway. Witnesses described the approach as "fast" and "odd" and that the gyrocopter pitched nose-down before hitting the ground and rolling over. The pilot had 200 hours of flight experience. He did not possess a rating or a student endorsement for rotorcraft/gyrocopter, and had no experience in make and model. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the gyrocopter.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 14, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 45 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 18, 2000; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,085 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA-82 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 47N Manville NJ at 2:24 pm
- Destination: 47N Manville NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,509 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from SMQ, 7 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.
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.