Air Command Commander Elite accident near Lansing, IL
On January 1, 2003, an Air Command Commander Elite (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Lansing, IL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 1, 2003
- Place
- Lansing, IL
- Aircraft
- Air Command Commander Elite · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.540°N, 87.532°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030110X00053
Official records · CHI03LA048
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 1, 2003, at 1430 central standard time, an un-registered, amateur-built, Air Command gyrocopter was destroyed after a loss of control while maneuvering in the traffic pattern at the Lansing Municipal Airport, Lansing (IGQ), Illinois. The gyrocopter was reported to have taken off to the north from a north/south taxiway. The un-certified pilot was fatally injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight had just originated when the accident occurred. According to a written statement by a witness who had 28 years experience building and flying gyroplanes, he observed the gyrocopter takeoff from what appeared to him as the new north/south taxiway. He stated the gyrocopter appeared to heading north and climbing. The witness reported that before reaching the east/west runway the gyrocopter made a turn to a westerly heading. He estimated the altitude at 50 feet. The witness stated that as the gyrocopter passed in front of him it climbed to approximately 100 feet. The witness stated that within seconds he observed the gyrocopter transition into an abrupt climb, which quickly turned into a nose down attitude. The witness reported that the gyrocopter made a quick descent followed by an even faster climb. The gyrocopter then nosed over and tumbled to the ground. The witness stated "In my observation this scenario appeared to be a classic phugoid oscillation of increasing amplitude referred to as "pilot induced oscil
Probable cause
The inadvertent pilot induced oscillation. Factor to the accident was the wind gusts.
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Browse: Illinois
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
