What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 27, 2022, at about 1030 central daylight time an airgyro AG915 spartan gyrocopter, privacy data omitted. The gyrocopter was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Yankton, south dakota during a personal flight. VFR conditions prevailed, and no IFR flight plan was filed.
The aircraft was destroyed, the pilot sustained fatal injuries. The pilot held a sport pilot certificate.
The flight originated at Yankton airport in the gyrocopter and departed from runway 31 shortly before 1030 central daylight time.
A postimpact fire consumed the composite airframe. The wreckage was recovered from the accident site for further examination.
Witnesses stated they saw black smoke coming from the aircraft at approximately 400-430 feet. Witness stated the aircraft appeared to be flying west but then made a quick turn toward the south and then it went straight down nose first to the ground, but didn't see any fire until it hit the ground.
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2022, AT ABOUT 1030 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME AN AIRGYRO AG915 SPARTAN GYROCOPTER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE GYROCOPTER WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR YANKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA DURING A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.
THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE PILOT HELD A SPORT PILOT CERTIFICATE.
THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT YANKTON AIRPORT IN THE GYROCOPTER AND DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 31 SHORTLY BEFORE 1030 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME.
A POSTIMPACT FIRE CONSUMED THE COMPOSITE AIRFRAME. THE WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.
WITNESSES STATED THEY SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT AT APPROXIMATELY 400-430 FEET. WITNESS STATED THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE FLYING WEST BUT THEN MADE A QUICK TURN TOWARD THE SOUTH AND THEN IT WENT STRAIGHT DOWN NOSE FIRST TO THE GROUND, BUT DIDN'T SEE ANY FIRE UNTIL IT HIT 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.