Amateur-built BENSEN B-8M accident near Eureka, California, November 12, 1985
On November 12, 1985 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built BENSEN B-8M (gyroplane), registered N4579C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eureka, California. 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
- November 12, 1985 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Eureka, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BENSEN B-8M BENSEN B-8
- Registration
- N4579C · no longer on the register · serial 2544
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON NOVEMBER 12, 1985, AT APPROXIMATELY 1345 PST AN AMATEUR BUILT BENSEN B-8M AIRCRAFT OWNED AND OPERATED BY JOHN PATRICK COLEMAN CRASHED WHILE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE PILOT HELD A PRIVATE CERTIFICATE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT EUREKA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, EUREKA, CALIFORNIA, AT APPROXIMATELY 1420 PST. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT ON DEPARTURE 'MAKE A SHRP TURN CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO INVERT AND FALL TO THE EARTH.
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: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 16, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier 503S.N.345842 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 033 Eureka CA at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.