Vanek SPORT COPTER accident near Scappoose, OR
On July 24, 1999, a Vanek SPORT COPTER (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Scappoose, OR. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 24, 1999
- Place
- Scappoose, OR
- Aircraft
- Vanek SPORT COPTER · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.801°N, 122.969°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X19383
NTSB summary
On July 24, 1999, approximately 1210 Pacific daylight time, a Vanek Sport Copter gyroplane, N61887, and an unregistered ultralight were destroyed by inflight impact and ensuing ground impact after a mid-air collision at Scappoose, Oregon, airport. The gyroplane's Airline Transport Pilot and non-rated passenger, and the private pilot aboard the ultralight, were fatally injured. No flight plan was filed for the local demonstration flight by the gyroplane pilot or for the local flight by the ultralight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Witnesses described the gyroplane as being on approach to land on the parallel taxiway to runway 15, about 400 feet above ground level at the approach end of the runway. The ultralight pilot was at the approach end. Witnesses described the impact as occurring when the gyroplane was descending and the ultralight was climbing after takeoff. The owner of the gyroplane stated that he heard the gyroplane overhead on his downwind leg, when he decided to come outside in front of the Sport Copter building to watch the landing. He stated, in part, that the gyroplane pilot "was on final approach at approximately 500-700 feet on taxiway 15. A wind out of the south, 5-7 mph, slowed the decent (sic) of the gyro moving forward slowly. Watching the gyro approach closer at the altitude of approximately 200-250 ft. I saw an orange high wing ultralight airplane climb above the hangars. The climb was very steep (approx. 40 degrees), then suddenly he pulled up. Upon realizing he was getting awfully close to the gyroplane, alre
Probable cause
The failure of the ultralight operator to see and avoid the landing gyroplane, and the gyroplane pilot's inability to see the departing ultralight vehicle.
More accidents in OR
- Cessna T207A, Aug 21, 1986
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Browse: Oregon
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
