Amateur-built B8M accident near Patillas, Puerto Rico, February 3, 1983
On February 3, 1983 at about 6:15 pm local time, a amateur-built B8M (gyroplane), registered N1080L, was destroyed in an accident near Patillas, Puerto Rico (Patillas Airport). 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
- February 3, 1983 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Patillas, Puerto Rico · Patillas Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B8M · all B8Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1080L · no longer on the register · serial JL1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GYROCOPTER CRASHED DURING TAKEOFF AFTER CLIMBING TO ABOUT 50 FT. AGL. THIS WAS THE SEVENTH TAKEOFF OF THE DAY FOR THIS FLT. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND IT DOVE VERTICALLY TO THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE CYCLIC STICK HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED UNDER THE PILOT'S SEAT. THIS SEPARATION OF THE STICK WAS NOT THE RESULT OF IMPACT. THE PILOT DID NOT POSSESS AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE AND THERE WAS NO RECORD TO SUBSTANTIATE THAT HE HAD ANY TRAINING IN THE GYROCOPTER. THE PILOT NEVER APPLIED FOR A SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 4318 A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.