Amateur-built B8M accident near Wenatchee, Washington, July 23, 1983
On July 23, 1983 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built B8M (gyroplane), registered N2279C, was destroyed in an accident near Wenatchee, Washington (Pangborn airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- July 23, 1983 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wenatchee, Washington · Pangborn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B8M · all B8Ms on the register
- Registration
- N2279C · no longer on the register · serial 3826
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE PLT HAD RECEIVED 7 HRS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE BENSON GYROCOPTER. HE HAD BEEN OBSERVED TAXIING THE ACFT ON AN UNUSED PORTION OF THE ARPT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS OF 1982 & 1983. HOWEVER, NO FLTS WERE OBSERVED & THE STUDENT PLT HAD NO ENDORSEMENT. ON 7/30/83, THE ACFT CRASHED APRX 1 BLOCK FROM THE ARPT BOUNDRY (PRESUMABLY DURING TAKEOFF). REPORTEDLY, HE HAD A LOSS OF PERCEPTION OF FORWARD SPEED AFTER GAINING ABOUT 100 FT WHICH RESULTED IN A DECAY OF ROTOR RPM. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GYROCOPT ENTERED A DESCENT & MADE A HARD CONTACT WITH THE GROUND WHILE IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. NO PREEXISTING MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND DURING AN EXAM OF THE GYROCOPTER.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 15 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch 4318A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from EAT, 1 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.