Northam RAF 2000 accident near Nelsonia, VA
On November 16, 2003, a Northam RAF 2000 (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Nelsonia, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 16, 2003
- Place
- Nelsonia, VA
- Aircraft
- Northam RAF 2000 · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.822°N, 75.610°W
- NTSB ID
- 20031216X02040
NTSB summary
On November 16, 2003, at 1119 eastern standard time, a homebuilt RAF 2000 gyroplane, N999GC, was destroyed when it struck the ground in Nelsonia, Virginia. The certificated airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from Accomack County Airport (MFV), Melfa, Virginia. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Personnel at the departure airport reported that the pilot had initiated a takeoff, and then aborted the takeoff for unknown reasons. He pulled clear of the runway and stayed there for about 10 minutes with the engine idling. He then pulled back on the runway and departed about 1028. That was the last he was seen at the airport. The gyroplane was next observed by a witness, who was located about 2 miles northwest of the accident site. The witness reported that when she first observed the gyroplane, the nose was oscillating up and down. The oscillations smoothed out, and the gyroplane continued in straight and level flight to the southeast. Shortly after the gyroplane disappeared from view, she observed a rising column of black smoke coming from the direction the gyroplane was headed. Additional interviews of witnesses in the area revealed that three of the witnesses reported that the gyroplane was in level flight when it rolled left to the inverted position, and then descended in a nose down attitude and impacted the ground. One other witness thought that the gyroplane had first pitched up to a near vertical attitude, and then reversed
Probable cause
A loss of control for undetermined reason(s).
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
