What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Witnesses stated the pilot initially departed runway 17L and completed one circuit around the traffic pattern. While approaching the north end of runway 17L the pilot appeared to hover into the wind and performed several pedal turns. The pilot then proceeded to perform a touch and go maneuver and started around the traffic pattern a second time. Witnesses reported that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern the gyro copter appeared to fly straight and level at an estimated altitude of 100-150 feet AGL. Near the mid-field point, the gyro copter suddenly pitched to a nose down attitude and impacted the ground.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WITNESSES STATED THE PILOT INITIALLY DEPARTED RUNWAY 17L AND COMPLETED ONE CIRCUIT AROUND THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. WHILE APPROACHING THE NORTH END OF RUNWAY 17L THE PILOT APPEARED TO HOVER INTO THE WIND AND PERFORMED SEVERAL PEDAL TURNS. THE PILOT THEN PROCEEDED TO PERFORM A TOUCH AND GO MANEUVER AND STARTED AROUND THE TRAFFIC PATTERN A SECOND TIME. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN THE GYRO COPTER APPEARED TO FLY STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 100-150 FEET AGL. NEAR THE MID-FIELD POINT, THE GYRO COPTER SUDDENLY PITCHED TO A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.