Mcnear Explorer Coupe accident near Okeechobee, FL
On March 14, 2009, a Mcnear Explorer Coupe (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Okeechobee, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 14, 2009
- Place
- Okeechobee, FL
- Aircraft
- Mcnear Explorer Coupe · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 27.266°N, 80.850°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090314X33728
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 14, 2009, at about 1002 eastern daylight time, a McNear, Explorer Coupe 2000, amateur-built gyrocopter, N5098L, rolled over on the taxiway adjacent to runway 14, under unknown circumstances, at the Okeechobee County Airport (OBE), Okeechobee, Florida. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot was killed. The accident was reported to Okeechobee County Sheriff's Department at 1016. According to a certified flight instructor (CFI), he and his student pilot landed on runway 14 at OBE. They taxied to the ramp and shut down for about 15 minutes. The CFI and student pilot returned to the airplane, started it, and taxied out to runway 14 for departure. While approaching the runway, the CFI observed what appeared to be some metal on the edge of the runway. When the airplane was taxied to the runway threshold, the CFI observed a gyrocopter laying on its back or side. The CFI shut the airplane down, exited the airplane, and went to the accident site. A deceased occupant was laying on the runway to the left of the gyrocopter. The CFI called the emergency 911 operators and reported the accident. A friend of the deceased pilot stated he and some other pilots went out to look at the gyrocopter after they completed their breakfast. The deceased pilot informed them that he was having problems with the pre-rotator on the gyrocopter getting over 60 rpm and that he might reengage the pre-rotator after he sta
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the gyrocopter while taxiing for takeoff.
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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.
