Amateur-built RAF 2000 accident near Beverly, Massachusetts, August 2, 2004
On August 2, 2004 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RAF 2000 (gyroplane), registered N62188, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beverly, Massachusetts (Beverly Muni airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing. A factor in this accident was the crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2004 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Beverly, Massachusetts · Beverly Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RAF 2000
- Registration
- N62188 · no longer on the register · serial 001LP
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing on runway 16. After touchdown, the gyrocopter encountered a wind gust and became airborne again. The pilot intended to maintain flight to prevent the gyrocopter from falling onto the runway; however, he made a "wrong correction." The gyrocopter then rolled onto it's left side and impacted the ground. The pilot said he did not experience any mechanical problems. Winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 080 degrees, at 5 knots.
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: 950 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 7, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 59 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2004; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,540 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru 2.2L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BVY Beverly MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,634 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from BVY
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.