Amateur-built SKYCYCLE 2 accident near Orlando, Florida, June 18, 1988
On June 18, 1988 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SKYCYCLE 2 (gyroplane), registered N33KA, was destroyed in an accident near Orlando, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- June 18, 1988 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYCYCLE 2
- Registration
- N33KA · no longer on the register · serial 003
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GYROPLANE WAS ON A LOCAL DEMONSTRATION FLT. THE PASSENGER (PAX) STATED THE PLT TOOK OFF, CLIMBED TO APRX 500 FT AGL,DESCENDED TO APRX 20 FT AGL & MANEUVERED NEAR OBSERVERS. HE SAID THE PLT THEN ADDED POWER & INITIATED A 30 DEG CLIMB ATTITUDE. THE PAX REMEMBERED EXPERIENCING A NEGATIVE 'G' SENSATION & SAID THE PLT WAS MOVING THE STICK AROUND, TRYING TO FIND OUT 'WHERE THEY WERE.' THE GYROPLANE THEN DESCENDED & STRUCK THE GROUND. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE POWERPLANT, AIRFRAME OR FLT CONTROLS. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED ROTORCRAFT CATEGORY & GYROPLANE CLASS RATING. HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE REQUIRED HIM TO WEAR CORRECTING LENSES WHILE EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF HIS AIRMAN CERTIFICATE. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE PLT WAS NOT WEARING GLASSES. THE GYROPLANE HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED AN AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE BY THE FAA.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from MCO, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.