Pitcairn RAF 2000 accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1998
On November 3, 1998 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Pitcairn RAF 2000 (gyroplane), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N52BP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania (Doylestown Airport). 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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's fatigue and the crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 1998 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Doylestown, Pennsylvania · Doylestown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pitcairn RAF 2000, amateur-built
- Registration
- N52BP · no longer on the register · serial H2-96-7-251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew three traffic patterns in the gyroplane. He reported that he was experiencing difficulty with the gusty, crosswind conditions. On the fourth approach with a crosswind from the left, the gyroplane bounced during the landing, rolled to the right, and collided with terrain. The pilot said there were no mechanical deficiencies with the gyroplane, and the accident could have been prevented if he was 'better rested and mentally sharp.'
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: 147 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 54 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 57 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1998; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,540 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EJ22 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DYL at 2:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 3,004 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from NXX, 10 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.