Amateur-built BARNETT J3 accident near Yuba City, California, July 25, 1986
On July 25, 1986, a amateur-built BARNETT J3 (gyroplane), registered N504P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yuba City, California (Sutter CO. airport). 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 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
- July 25, 1986
- Place
- Yuba City, California · Sutter CO.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BARNETT J3
- Registration
- N504P · registry record · serial OU812
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LANDING ACCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER THE PILOT HAD MADE HIGH SPEED TAXI TESTS ALONG THE RUNWAY WITH THREE LIFTOFFS. AFTER THE THIRD LIFTOFF, THE PILOT SAID THAT HE FOUND HIMSELF TOO HIGH. HE STATED THAT HE REDUCED POWER AND PUSHED FORWARD ON THE CONTROL STICK. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND ON THE NOSE WHEEL, WHICH COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH AN AIRPLANE SINGLE-ENGINE LAND RATING, THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT IN A GYROPLANE.
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
- Flight time: 192 hours in all; 152 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 18, 1986; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,040 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots
- 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.