FTW86LA170

Factual narrative

WHILE ARRIVING FOR A 'FLY-IN' AT AN UNCONTROLLED ARPT, THE PLT OF A PT-22, N48331, TURNED ONTO FINAL APCH AFTER THE PLT OF A PRECEDING ACFT HAD TURNED OFF OF THE RWY. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE PLT OF AN UNREGISTERED ULTRALIGHT GYROCOPTER TAXIED ONTO THE RWY & BEGAN TAKING OFF. THE PT-22 PLT DID NOT SEE THE GYROCOPTER & CONTINUED HIS APCH. THE GYROCOPTER PLT STATED THAT HE HAD WAITED FOR OTHER ACFT TO LAND, THEN CHECKED FOR ACFT ON FINAL APCH, BUT DID NOT SEE ANY, SO HE TAXIED ONTO THE RWY & STARTED HIS TAKEOFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED ABOUT 1500 FT DOWN THE RWY. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE GYROCOPTER WAS JUST LIFTING OFF. THE PT-22 PLT COULD NOT SEE OVER THE NOSE OF HIS ACFT WHILE IT WAS ROLLING WITH THE TAILWHEEL ON THE GROUND. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12