Amateur-built B-8M accident near Dunnellon, Florida, March 16, 1984
On March 16, 1984 at about 8:09 pm local time, a amateur-built B-8M (gyroplane), registered N8067W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dunnellon, Florida (Dunnellon Mun. 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
- March 16, 1984 · about 8:09 pm local time
- Place
- Dunnellon, Florida · Dunnellon Mun.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B-8M
- Registration
- N8067W · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS TOLD BY THE OWNER OF THE ACFT TO ONLY TAXI THE ACFT & NOT TO FLY IT. DURING THE 6TH TAXI MANEUVER IT BECAME AIRBORNE. IT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 200 FT AGL WHERE THE PLT MADE A 180 DEG TURN, FOLLOWED BY A 90 DEG TURN, FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER 180 DEG TURN. DURING THIS LAST TURN, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO 'PORPOISE' OR FLUCTUATE IN ALTITUDE. THE M/R BLADE BEGAN TO 'FLAP' OR CONE ON THE 3RD 'PORPOISE.' THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND & ROLLED ON ITS LEFT SIDE ON TOP OF THE PLT. THE OWNER OF THE ACFT ESTIMATED THAT THE STUDENT PLT HAD 23 HRS OF GYROCOPTER TIME, BUT HAD NOT FLOWN IN THE LAST 60 DAYS.
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
- Flight time: 23 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 500 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 547 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 4318A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from GNV, 38 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.
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.