Bird RAF-2000 accident near Redmond, UT
On November 6, 1993, a Bird RAF-2000 (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Redmond, UT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 6, 1993
- Place
- Redmond, UT
- Aircraft
- Bird RAF-2000 · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.999°N, 111.879°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X13797
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 6, 1993, approximately 1030 hours mountain standard time (MST), a Bird RAF-2000 experimental gyroplane, N70334, registered to and being flown by David E. Bird, a certificated private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with terrain following a loss of control on climbout at the Salina-Gunnison Airport, Redmond, Utah. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91 and originated from the Salina-Gunnison airport. The pilot executed his first takeoff approximately 1010 hours from runway 20 and remained in a left hand traffic pattern. A VHS video recording of the pilot's approaches, landings and initial climbouts was made by the pilot's father and reviewed by the Investigator in Charge. The pilot's father, wife, and at least one other witness were located slightly west of the edge of the 60 foot wide runway and approximately 2400 feet southwest of the threshold of runway 20. The first takeoff/landing was uneventful. During the second takeoff the aircraft diverged from the runway centerline and passed almost directly overhead the witnesses. The pilot's father remarked "smart alec" during this event. During the third takeoff the aircraft again diverged from the runway centerline and passed almost directly overhead the witnesses. The pilot's father remarked "he's crazy" during this event. During the fourth and fifth takeoffs the aircraft again diverged from the runway cente
Probable cause
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXCEEDING THE PROPER CLIMB RATE. A FACTOR CONTIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKE/MODEL.
More accidents in UT
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Browse: Utah
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
