Amateur-built RAF 2000 accident near Buckeye, Arizona, October 16, 2003
On October 16, 2003 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RAF 2000 (gyroplane), registered N4132R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona (Buckeye Municipal 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 misjudged the landing flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2003 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · Buckeye Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RAF 2000
- Registration
- N4132R · no longer on the register · serial 112967212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot made a hard landing during his initial solo flight. After a normal traffic pattern, he rolled out on final approach. When he was over the numbers, he leveled off, reduced power, and brought the stick back to flare. The gyroplane was at 5 miles per hour (mph) and 6 feet above ground level (agl). The tailwheel struck first, followed by the right main gear and the main rotor blades. The gyroplane rolled to the left and spun 180 degrees. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions and felt he leveled off too high.
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: student
- Flight time: 53 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EJ-22 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BXK Buckeye AZ
- Destination: BXK Buckeye AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.