Mcculloch J-2 accident near Willits, California, June 11, 1994
On June 11, 1994 at about 3:31 pm local time, a Mcculloch J-2 (gyroplane), registered N22GR, was destroyed in an accident near Willits, 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
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1994 · about 3:31 pm local time
- Place
- Willits, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcculloch J-2
- Registration
- N22GR · registry record · serial 28
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE QUIT AND THEN OBSERVED SMOKE AND A LARGE FIRE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE RESCUE, THE PILOT TOLD THIS WITNESS THAT HE 'COULDN'T GET THE ROTOR BLADE UP.' EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FOUND NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HOWEVER, THE NO.3 CYLINDER WAS FOUND TO A 3-INCH CRACK THAT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE POSTCRASH FIRE. SUPPORTING THIS WAS THE ABSENCE OF EXHAUST SOOT OR OIL STAINS IN THE CRACKED AREA NORMALLY FOUND WITH A CYLINDER THAT FAILED IN FLIGHT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 447 hours in all; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 330 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1993; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: O28 at 3:30 pm
- Destination: O51 Lincoln CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 am from UKI
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.