- Date
- March 11, 2023, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Strawberry Reservoir, UT · Frozen lake/reservoir
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N553ATTrendak Taurus
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20230311001779A
- Case key
- 106882
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the snow-covered lake while flying at a low altitude.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, while flying low over a snow-covered frozen lake, the gyrocopter was closer to the surface than he realized. The pilot increased engine power to attempt to climb away from the surface, however, the nosewheel impacted snow on the surface and the gyrocopter nosed over, rolled, and came to rest on its side. The fuselage, horizontal stabilizer, and rudders were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyrocopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N553AT
- Reported as
- Trendak Taurus
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- T&S F26917S
- Built
- 2017
- Airframe hours
- 140
- Engine
- Rotax 912 UL 2-01, 160 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 7, 2023
- Departed
- KPVU · Provo, UT
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 550.3 total · 33.2 in this make and model · 489 as pilot in command · 13.1 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 0.7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KPVU, 27 nm away
- METAR
- METAR KPVU 111756Z VRB05KT 10SM FEW060 SCT100 BKN200 03/M05 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP164 T00331050 10039 21017 51008
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.