# NTSB CEN20LA203: Magni Magni M 16, N316MG, Cape Girardeau, MO, May 29, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 29, 2020, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Cape Girardeau, MO
- Coordinates: 37.226943, -89.56472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2269&lon=-89.5647&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101353
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101353/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101353
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA203

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s decision to take off with inadequate runway remaining, and his subsequent failure to attain proper airspeed, which resulted in the gyroplane’s descent into terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Gremminger Greg MAGNI M-16, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05612I8), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Gremminger Greg MAGNI M-16, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05612I8), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Gremminger Greg MAGNI M-16, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=05612I8), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Gremminger Greg MAGNI M-16, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05612I8), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Gremminger Greg MAGNI M-16, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=05612I8), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings in the gyroplane when the engine warning light illuminated while on the downwind leg. He dismissed the engine warning light for oil pressure when it extinguished while rolling down the runway and elected to takeoff again. He stated that he noticed a “weird smell” and that engine did not seem to be making power, so he landed again on the remaining runway; however, noting that the end of the runway was approaching, he then chose to take off again so that the gyroplane did not continue off the runway into the muddy grass. The pilot reported that, after takeoff, he “had no speed” and “fell behind the power curve,” and the gyroplane descended into the grass past the end of the runway. The wheels dug into the soft ground and the aircraft rolled onto its side, substantially damaging the rotor system, the airframe, and the tail assembly. The pilot’s flight instructor, who witnessed the accident and was the owner of the gyroplane, stated that the pilot remained on the runway too long before taking off. He stated that the gyroplane became airborne with about 100 to 200 ft of runway remaining and that its nose was “too high” before it settled back to the ground past the end of the runway. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the gyroplane. The engine was examined, and no anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. The accident is consistent with the student pilot’s decision to take off with inadequate runway remaining, and his subsequent failure to attain proper airspeed, which resulted in the gyroplane’s descent into terrain.

## Factual narrative

On May 29, 2020, at 1715 central daylight time, a Magni M-16 gyroplane, N316MG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The student pilot received minor injuries. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot was conducting a supervised solo flight to practice touch-and-go landings and stated that, while on approach for the fourth or fifth landing, the engine warning light illuminated while on the downwind leg. He dismissed the engine light when it extinguished while rolling down the runway and elected to take off again. He then noticed a “weird smell” after he took off and the engine did not seem to be producing power, so he landed again; however, because the aircraft was nearing the end of the runway, he chose to take off again so that the gyroplane did not continue off the end of the runway into the muddy grass. The pilot reported that, after takeoff, he “had no speed” and “fell behind the power curve,” and the gyroplane descended into the grass past the end of the runway. The wheels dug into the soft ground and the aircraft rolled onto its side, substantially damaging the rotor system, the airframe, and the tail assembly. The flight instructor and owner of the gyroplane watched the pilot land and stated that the pilot remained on the runway too long before taking off again. He stated that he was expecting the pilot to exit the runway and taxi back when he took off again with about 100 to 200 ft of runway remaining. The nose of the gyroplane was “too high,” and the gyroplane settled back to the ground past the departure end of the runway. He explained that the accident gyroplane was equipped with an engine alarm light that would illuminate for high exhaust gas temperatures (EGT), low oil pressure, low fuel pressure, and low voltage. He believed that the light illuminated on downwind for high EGT due to having the throttle at full power for too long, and that the light went out when the throttle was reduced for landing. He further explained that the light likely illuminated on landing due to low oil pressure when the throttle was reduced to idle. The engine was examined by a local mechanic and no anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N316MG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N316MG-2023-03-11), registration cancelled 2023-03-11, S/N 16-06-3474, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Magni MAGNI M 16 (Undesignat)
- Registry model: [Gremminger Greg MAGNI M-16](https://openairdocs.org/model/gremminger-greg-magni-m-16) (registry code 05612I8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane
- Serial number: 16-06-3474
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 2315
- Engines: Rotax 914UL 115 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Paul Salmon Aircraft Services Llc
- Registered owner: Paul Salmon Aircraft Services Llc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2019, 60 hours before
- Departed: CGI, Cape Girardeau, MO
- Destination: CGI, Cape Girardeau, MO
- Airport: CGI, Cape Girardeau Rgnl, runway 02, 3,997 × 100 ft, concrete
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 18; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 31.6 total, 17.6 in this make and model, 1.6 as pilot in command, 31.6 in the last 90 days, 25.2 in the last 30 days, 1.2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observed at: CGI, 2 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20200529007219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200529007219A), May 29, 2020: Gremminger Greg MAGNI M-16, Cape Girardeau, MO, Substantial damage. The pilot involved was [privacy data omitted], student pilot certificate [privacy data omitted]. [privacy data omitted] Was the solo student pilot of a greg…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101353. 8.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9760196&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Combined_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9760481&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation-Salmon-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 606 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9761338&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN20CA203-Rel.pdf
- Memo for record - engine examination (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11880239&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Engine%20Exam_Redacted-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.