Amateur-built SG-3 accident near Fort Pierce, Florida, February 16, 2008
On February 16, 2008 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SG-3 (gyroplane), registered N6232Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fort Pierce, Florida (Evans Properties Inc Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the student to maintain directional control during a cross wind takeoff. A factor in the accident was inadequate supervision by the CFI.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2008 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Pierce, Florida · Evans Properties Inc Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SG-3
- Registration
- N6232Y · no longer on the register · serial 008263995
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that during a go-around following a touch-and-go landing on runway 27 with the wind from 360 degrees at 15-20 knots, the gyrocopter drifted to the left. The CFI took control of the gyrocopter but the left wheel contacted a tire that bordered the south edge of the runway. The gyrocopter then yawed to the left and crashed into a canal. The CFI further stated there was no mechanical failure or malfunction.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 6,075 hours in all; 334 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 5,572 as pilot in command; 562 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 15 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 700 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B21 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FL67 Fort Pierce FL at 1:25 pm
- Destination: FL67 Fort Pierce FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 36 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 6:40 pm from KOBE, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.