# NTSB CEN24LA006: Gyro Technic GT-VX2, N557LJ, Saint Peter, MN, October 8, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 8, 2023, 15:52 local (20:52 UTC)
- Place: Saint Peter, MN · Riverbank
- Coordinates: 44.32156, -93.95059
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3216&lon=-93.9506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193213
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193213/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193213
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA006

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering through a river valley.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Loren D Jones GYRO TECHNIC VX2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05641TP), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Loren D Jones GYRO TECHNIC VX2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05641TP), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Loren D Jones GYRO TECHNIC VX2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05641TP), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Loren D Jones GYRO TECHNIC VX2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=05641TP), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

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.

## 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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N557LJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N557LJ), registered now, S/N VX2-002, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GYRO TECHNIC GT-VX2
- Registry model: [Loren D Jones GYRO TECHNIC VX2](https://openairdocs.org/model/loren-d-jones-gyro-technic-vx2) (registry code 05641TP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ISC series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912isc-series) (registry code 55591, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: VX2-002
- Year built: 2023
- Airframe hours: 0
- Engines: Rotax 912 IS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, July 7, 2023
- Departed: 12Y, Le Sueur, MN
- Destination: MKT, Mankato, MN
- Airport: MKT, Mankato Rgnl
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, private, commercial, remote, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 12, 2023; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,392 total, 1 in this make and model, 510.8 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KMKT, 6 nm away
- METAR: KMKT 082050Z AUTO 02009KT 10SM SCT075 16/02 A2993 RMK T01600020 MADISHF,M

## 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 20231008016159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231008016159A), Oct 8, 2023: Loren D Jones GYRO TECHNIC VX2, Saint Peter, MN, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. A group of 2 gyrocopters departed the mankato MN airport (mkt) and flew to the le sueur MN airport (12Y) to perform touch and go’s. the 2 aircraft departed 12Y…

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193213. 7.2 MB in all.

- Wreckage examination summary (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17096422&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Exam%20Summary%20N557LJ-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 408 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17176606&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17017445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Bulk%20Wreckage%20Form%20N557LJ_Signed%20DS_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� schoemaker (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17175483&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Schoemaker-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� witness (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17081708&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Police%20Reports-Rel.pdf
- Cockpit display - specialist's factual report (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 1 photo, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17084195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cockpit%20Display%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Engine control unit - specialist's factual report (item 7, PDF, 6 pages, 3 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17086314&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Control%20Unit%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Engine control unit - specialist's factual report - attachment 1 - tabular data (item 8, CSV, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17086324&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Engine%20Control%20Unit%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20-%20Attachment%201%20-%20Tabular%20Data-Rel.csv
- Toxicological report (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18317386&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Forensic%20Tox%20Report_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.

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