Amateur-built DOMINATOR accident near Okeechobee, Florida, August 7, 1993
On August 7, 1993 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built DOMINATOR (gyroplane), registered N44162, was substantially damaged in an accident near Okeechobee, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ROTOR SPEED WHILE REVERSING DIRECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 1993 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Okeechobee, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DOMINATOR
- Registration
- N44162 · registry record · serial 427427
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE WAS FLYING NORTHBOUND AT 200 TO 300 FEET, AT 50 MPH WITH A 25 TO 30 KNOT SOUTHEASTERLY WIND. THIS WAS 5 TO 10 KNOTS SLOWER THAN HIS NORMAL CRUISE SPEED. HE MADE A TURN TO THE NORTHWEST WHICH PLACED THE GYROCOPTER DOWNWIND. AS HE COMPLETED THE TURN THE GYROCOPTER BEGAN TO DESCEND RAPIDLY. BEFORE RECOVERY COULD BE MADE THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED A PALM TREE AND THE GYROCOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE GYROCOPTER THEN ROLLED ON TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND CAME TO REST. ROTOR RPM WAS NOT MAINTAINED DURING THE TURN WHICH RESULTED IN THE RAPID DESCENT.
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; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 640 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from PBI, 52 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.
Other NTSB records under N44162 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.