Amateur-built BENSON B-8-M accident near Cooperstown, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1986
On September 13, 1986 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built BENSON B-8-M (gyroplane), registered N6154, was destroyed in an accident near Cooperstown, Pennsylvania. 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 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
- September 13, 1986 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cooperstown, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BENSON B-8-M BENSON B-8
- Registration
- N6154 · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BENSON B-8-M GYROCOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO TAKE OFF AND TRANSITION TO LEVEL FLIGHT. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO DIP AND THEN THE AIRCRAFT BANKED LEFT AND CRASHED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. NO PRE-EXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED OR AVAILABLE. THE PLT WAS NOT CERTIFICATED FOR FLT.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 31, 1979
- Maximum gross weight: 550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1600CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cooperstown PA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:43 pm from FKL, 10 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.