Green GTX-SE-FI accident near Gillette, WY
On April 30, 2000, a Green GTX-SE-FI (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Gillette, WY. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 30, 2000
- Place
- Gillette, WY
- Aircraft
- Green GTX-SE-FI · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 44.460°N, 105.700°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X20804
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 30, 2000, at 0825 mountain daylight time, a Green GTX-SE-FI experimental amateur-built gyrocopter (or gyroplane), N2411V, was destroyed when it broke up in flight and impacted terrain about 5 miles south of Gillette, Wyoming. There was fire after impact. The airline transport certificated pilot, who was the owner and builder of the gyrocopter, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the pilot's private airstrip approximately 0820. According to the Campbell County Sheriff's Department incident report (#00-03057), there were several witnesses to the accident. Witness no. 1 said he heard the gyrocopter take off from the pilot's private airstrip. It was flying low and the engine sounded like it was "racing," then he saw "the rotors come apart in the air." Witness no. 2 said he heard the gyrocopter and it sounded like the engine was "sputtering." He saw the helicopter flying low, then there was an "explosion, [and] debris flying [off]. . .it looked like it came apart in the air." Witness no. 3 heard the gyrocopter "flying low and the engine was sputtering. . .There was an explosion and fire coming" from the gyrocopter. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to FAA documents, the pilot was a former professional pilot, and was type rated in the Falcon and Learjet series business aircraft. Between May 1970 and December 1971, the pilot flew 1,600 combat missions in Viet Nam. He was shot down seven times and woun
Probable cause
The pilot's abruptly pulling the nose up at an excessive airspeed, resulting in the rotor blades striking the vertical stabilizer and a subsequent loss of aircraft control.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
