Murphey VANCRAFT 532 N61LM

Summary

On 15 January 1989 at about 18:04 local time, a Murphey VANCRAFT 532 registered N61LM was involved in an accident near Tucson, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 January 1989 at 18:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

32.2801, -110.7304

Aircraft

Murphey VANCRAFT 532

Registration

N61LM

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tucson → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89DUJ03

1 person died.

INADEQUATE LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT DURING UNWARRANTED LOW FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE GYROCOPTER COLLIDED WITH TRANSMISSION WIRES. IT SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CLEAR AND VISIBILITY WAS 50 MILES. NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WAS FOUND. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED 'FINE' AND THAT HE OBSERVED THE GYROCOPTER TO DESCEND JUST BEFORE IMPACT, AS IF THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CONTACT WITH THE WIRES. ANOTHER WITNESS SAID IT APPEARED THAT THE GYROCOPTER WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT WHEN IT STRUCK WIRES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.