Amateur-built B8M accident near Adelanto, California, December 10, 1994
On December 10, 1994 at about 10:26 pm local time, a amateur-built B8M (gyroplane), registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Adelanto, California (El Mirage Dry Lake Bed airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during the downwind turn and his resulting failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm. A factor in the accident was the lack of an airspeed indicator.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 10, 1994 · about 10:26 pm local time
- Place
- Adelanto, California · El Mirage Dry Lake Bed · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B8M
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A DRY LAKE BED IN THE UNREGISTERED AND UNCERTIFICATED GYROCOPTER, THE PILOT TURNED CROSSWIND AND THEN DOWNWIND AT A WITNESS-ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF BETWEEN 200 AND 300 FEET AGL. THE WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT DESCEND AND STRIKE POWER LINES, THEN FALL TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT OF A SECOND AIRCRAFT THAT TOOK OFF AHEAD OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT STATED THAT AS HE TURNED DOWNWIND, HE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO ADD BOTH POWER AND COLLECTIVE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE BECAUSE OF THE WINDS. THE AIRFRAME WAS EXAMINED WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. THE GYROCOPTER IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN AIRSPEED INDICATOR AND THE PILOT MUST JUDGE HIS AIRSPEED BY RELATIVE GROUND MOTION.
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: 460 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1835 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 am from PMD, 27 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.