Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering through a river valley.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was conducting a personal flight as part of a flight of two gyroplanes. Bothpilots were flying their gyroplanes at low level through a river valley when the accident occurred. As they approached a bridge, the second pilot climbed his gyroplane; however, the accident pilot remained at a lower altitude after passing over the bridge and subsequently impacted power lines. The second pilot noticed “flashing” below him and observed the accident gyroplane splash into the river. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot was fatally injured. A witness on the ground observed the gyroplane fly directly into the power lines. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 8, 2023, about 1552 central daylight time, an experimental Gyro Technic GT-VX2 gyroplane, N557LJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Saint Peter, Minnesota. The pilot was fatally injured. The gyroplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from Mankato Regional Airport (MKT), Mankato, Minnesota, about 1500 as a flight of two gyroplanes. Both gyroplanes flew to Le Sueur Municipal Airport (12Y), Le Sueur, Minnesota, and completed multiple landings in the traffic pattern. The second pilot reported that after leaving 12Y, the two gyroplanes followed a river valley at low level. As both gyroplanes approached a bridge, the second pilot climbed to a higher altitude; however, the accident pilot remained at a lower altitude after passing over the bridge. The second pilot noticed “flashing” below him and observed the accident gyroplane splash into the river. A witness on the ground reported observing the accident gyroplane fly directly into power lines, flip upside down, and fall inverted into the river. During a postaccident examination of the airframe, flight control continuity was established from the control yoke to all flight controls. The rudder cables were continuous from the cockpit pedals to the control surface. No preimpact anomalies were found with the flight control system. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The gyroplane was equipped with an engine control unit (ECU) capable of logging data. The entire 1.06-hour accident flight was recorded, and no pre-impact anomalies were found within the ECU data. According to the Mayo Clinic Laboratories autopsy report, the pilot's cause of death was "multiple blunt impact injuries," and the manner of death was "accident." The Federal Aviation Administration's Forensic Sciences Laboratory toxicology tests were negative for all tests performed.