Ken Brock Mfg. CO KB-2 accident near Tracy, California, October 13, 1985
On October 13, 1985 at about 8:32 pm local time, a Ken Brock Mfg. CO KB-2 (gyroplane), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N199CR, was destroyed in an accident near Tracy, California (Tracy Muni 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
- October 13, 1985 · about 8:32 pm local time
- Place
- Tracy, California · Tracy Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ken Brock Mfg. CO KB-2, amateur-built
- Registration
- N199CR · no longer on the register · serial CT001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INEXPERIENCED STUDENT PILOT APPLIED EXCESSIVE MAIN ROTORCONTROL INPUTS WHILE FLYING ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD AND SEVERED THE PUSHING PROPELLER AND EMPENNAGE. THE GYROPLANE PITCHED FORWARD AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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: 20 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch NONE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 036 at 8:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,680 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from SCK, 16 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.