Amateur-built Air Command 582 Dual accident near Gerlach, Nevada, September 2, 2001
On September 2, 2001 at about 1:30 am local time, a amateur-built Air Command 582 Dual (gyroplane), registered N301CS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gerlach, Nevada. 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 inability to maintain altitude because of the gyrocopter's inadequatly designed performance capability.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2001 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Gerlach, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Air Command 582 Dual
- Registration
- N301CS · no longer on the register · serial CLS01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After turning downwind following takeoff, the gyrocopter lost forward speed and began to descend. It touched down on the left tire, rolled over, and the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction. He stated the engine and propeller combination was not providing sufficient performance to operate the gyrocopter safely, and he had been modifying it since it was built 2 years previously. This was the second flight of the day after he had shifted the occupant seats to provide better airflow to the propeller.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier unknown (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gerlach NV at 1:30 am
- Destination: Gerlach NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KLOL
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.