Amateur-built Trainer accident near New Smyrna, Florida, June 23, 2003
On June 23, 2003 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Trainer (gyroplane), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Smyrna, Florida (New Smyrna Beach, Florida airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the gyrocopter.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2003 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Smyrna, Florida · New Smyrna Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Trainer
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial Unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that during initial takeoff, the aircraft climbed too fast, too early, and rolled to the right. He partially recovered prior to the aircraft colliding with the ground on the right side. A witness stated he observed the aircraft taking off on runway 6. About 1/3 of the way down the runway the aircraft rotated to a high angle of attack. The aircraft then yawed violently to the right. The pilot made a partial recovery but the aircraft again yawed to the right. The main rotor blades contacted the ground and the aircraft crashed. Post crash examination of the aircraft showed no evidence of malfunction. The aircraft was displaying FAA registration number N2059B at the time of the accident. FAA records indicate that the number was not currently assigned to an aircraft. The student pilot was not endorsed for solo 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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 51 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mazda 13B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KEVB New Smyrna FL at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from DAB, 15 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.