Amateur-built BENSEN accident near Tavares, Florida, May 22, 1983
On May 22, 1983 at about 2:52 pm local time, a amateur-built BENSEN (gyroplane), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tavares, Florida. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1983 · about 2:52 pm local time
- Place
- Tavares, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BENSEN
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GYROCOPTER DESCENDED TO THE LAKE IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANEUVER AND CRASHED. THE PLT WAS ON HIS 2ND FLT IN THE ACFT AND HAD BEEN TOLD TO LIMIT HIS CLIMB TO 10-15 FT AGL BY THE BUILDER OF THE GYROCOPTER. THE PLT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 400 FT AGL AND THE ACFT STARTED TO PORPOISE. DURING THE 3RD OSCILLATION THE GYRO TURNED OVER AND FELL INTO THE LAKE. WITNESSES HEARD THE ENGINE OPERATING UNTIL IMPACT. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE WATER AT A HIGH ANGLE OF DESCENT WHILE IN A LEFT TURN. THE PROPELLER BLADES WERE SHREDDED UPON IMPACT. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO IMPACT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 308 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 100-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:52 pm from ORL
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.