Amateur-built VANCRAFT 532 accident near Tucson, Arizona, January 15, 1989
On January 15, 1989 at about 6:04 pm local time, a amateur-built VANCRAFT 532 (gyroplane), registered N61LM, was destroyed in an accident near Tucson, Arizona. 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
INADEQUATE LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT DURING UNWARRANTED LOW FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 1989 · about 6:04 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANCRAFT 532 VANCRAFT 5
- Registration
- N61LM · registry record · serial M19861
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE GYROCOPTER COLLIDED WITH TRANSMISSION WIRES. IT SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CLEAR AND VISIBILITY WAS 50 MILES. NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WAS FOUND. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED 'FINE' AND THAT HE OBSERVED THE GYROCOPTER TO DESCEND JUST BEFORE IMPACT, AS IF THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CONTACT WITH THE WIRES. ANOTHER WITNESS SAID IT APPEARED THAT THE GYROCOPTER WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT WHEN IT STRUCK WIRES.
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; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 76 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 18, 1988; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4A8 Tucson AZ at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 006° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from TUS, 10 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.