Burgess AIR COMMAND accident near Punta Gorda, FL
On August 18, 2000, a Burgess AIR COMMAND (unknown) was involved in an accident near Punta Gorda, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 18, 2000
- Place
- Punta Gorda, FL
- Aircraft
- Burgess AIR COMMAND · Unknown
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 26.890°N, 82.051°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X21802
NTSB summary
On August 18, 2000, at about 1910 eastern daylight time, a Burgess Air Command 432, N6292, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while maneuvering in the vicinity of Punta Gorda, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The rotorcraft was destroyed. The recreational pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Punta Gorda at an undetermined time. Witnesses stated they observed the aircraft flying overhead at a low altitude, and it was observed doing some abrupt maneuvers. A witness stated, "It looked like he was trying to do a trick." The engine was under power the entire time. Additional witnesses stated they observed the nose pitch up about 90 degrees, the aircraft banked 90 degrees to the left, went inverted, and fell out of the sky. Another witness who was located at her home with her daughter stated they saw the aircraft flying overhead at a low altitude. "Next thing I saw him do like a donut (go upside down) then it went straight into my trees and hit the power." (For additional information see Charlotte County Sheriff's Office/Punta Gorda, Florida, Incident/Offense Report, an attachment to this report.) The original builder of the gyroplane plane stated he sold the aircraft to an individual in Fort Myers, Florida. The new owner sold the aircraft to the deceased pilot. The builder of the aircraft stated, "On Wednesday, August 17, while driving, I observed the gyro flying over a residential area at low altitude and doing radical maneuvers. The gyro was making steep turns a
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while performing aerobatic flight resulting in an in-flight loss of control, inadvertent stall, and subsequent in-flight collision with power lines, fence, and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's ostentatious display in performing aerobatic flight over a populated residential area.
More accidents in FL
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Browse: Florida
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
