Amateur-built B-8M accident near Santa Maria, California, June 19, 1983
On June 19, 1983 at about 1:30 am local time, a amateur-built B-8M (gyroplane), registered N7045, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Maria, California (Northside Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1983 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Santa Maria, California · Northside Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B-8M
- Registration
- N7045 · no longer on the register · serial 4711
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GRYOPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO DEPART FROM CONTROLLED FLT AT OR BELOW 800 FT AGL & THE PLT BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. BOTH IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT ABOUT 40 FT APART. THE PLT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT WAS 0.13%. THE CLASP ENDS OF THE SEAT BELT STRAPS WERE OPEN. BOTH WEBBINGS OF THE TWO STRAPS WERE IMPREGNATED WITH GREASE & FOREIGNMATERIAL. THE METAL CLASP 'GRIPS' WERE ROUNDED OFF & THE GROOVES BETWEEN THEM CONTAINED FOREIGN MATERIAL. THE LEFT STRAPSTICHING ON THE UPPER EDGE OF THE STRAP WAS WORN & DETERIORATED ALONG A LENGTH OF 6 INCHES IN THE AREA WHERE THE METAL CLASP WOULD NORMALLY BE CLASPED WHEN AROUND AN OCCUPANT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELTS WERE CLASPED TOGETHER & SEVERAL HARD TUGS WITH ONE HAND WAS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO COME OPEN. THIS PROCEDURE WAS TESTED SIX TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: gyroplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A&C 75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0CR1 Santa Maria CA
- Destination: 0CR1 Santa Maria CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.