Amateur-built RAF 2000 GTX accident near Chatham, Massachusetts, November 21, 2004
On November 21, 2004 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RAF 2000 GTX (gyroplane), registered N9327B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chatham, Massachusetts (Chatham Municipal Airport). It was an instructional 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 during a takeoff. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in gyroplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 2004 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chatham, Massachusetts · Chatham Municipal Airport · 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 GTX
- Registration
- N9327B · no longer on the register · serial H2-03-14-593
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had just completed 20 hours of dual instruction in the gyroplane, and was signed off by his instructor to conduct solo operations. After successfully completing his second solo landing, the pilot allowed the gyroplane to roll out on the runway, and before coming to a stop, applied power to take off again. The gyroplane suddenly veered to the left and rolled over. The pilot added that he forgot to come to a complete stop in the gyroplane, from habit of flying fixed-wing airplanes for 16 years, and that "you must first come to a complete stop," before taking off after a landing.
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: 500 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 390 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 6, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 54 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2004; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,540 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EJ-22 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CQX Chatham MA at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 3,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.