Amateur-built AIR COMMAND accident near Quitman, Mississippi, July 13, 1991
On July 13, 1991 at about 12:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AIR COMMAND (gyroplane), registered N7165P, was destroyed in an accident near Quitman, Mississippi (Clarke County 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 PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1991 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Quitman, Mississippi · Clarke County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AIR COMMAND AIR COMMAN
- Registration
- N7165P · no longer on the register · serial DRL-0542
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED GYROCOPTER BEGAN UP AND DOWN MOTION OR PORPOISING SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND PITCHED DOWN AT WHICH TIME IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE STRUCTURE, FLIGHT CONTROLS, OR ENGINE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD FLEXED UP AND DOWN AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE PROPELLER. AVAILABLE RECORDS INDICATED THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS IN GYROCOPTERS WITH NO EVIDENCE OF HAVING RECEIVED ANY TRAINING IN GYROCOPTERS.
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: 200 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 1990; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 735 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from MEI, 15 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.