# NTSB WPR25LA115: Rotorsport UK Cavalon, N157P, Murrieta, CA, March 20, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 20, 2025, 13:02 local (20:02 UTC) - Place: Murrieta, CA · short final for F70 - Coordinates: 33.5754, -117.13 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5754&lon=-117.1300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 199898 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199898/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199898 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA115 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an approach and subsequent descent into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot’s failure to perform a go-around maneuver. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rotorsport UK CAVALON, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7980111), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Rotorsport UK CAVALON, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7980111), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rotorsport UK CAVALON, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7980111), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rotorsport UK CAVALON, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7980111), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Rotorsport UK CAVALON, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7980111), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that she was on a solo cross-country flight and had entered the airport traffic pattern. While on the base leg, she slowed the gyroplane to follow an airplane that was established on final approach. She then turned final after the airplane had landed, however, the airplane did not exit the runway as she had anticipated. She slowed the gyroplane further and allowed a “slow vertical descent” for additional spacing from the airplane. The pilot then noticed that she had allowed the airspeed and altitude to decay. She attempted to recover by applying full throttle, however, the gyroplane turned right into a grass area and impacted terrain about 250 ft from the approach end of the runway. The rotor blades, fuselage, keel, and rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N157P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N157P), registered now, S/N RSUK-V00548, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROTORSPORT UK LTD CAVALON - Registry model: [Rotorsport UK CAVALON](https://openairdocs.org/model/rotorsport-uk-cavalon) (registry code 7980111) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 915 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-915-is-series) (registry code 55620, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane - Serial number: RSUK-V00548 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 123 - Engines: ROTAX 915 IS 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 19, 2025, 3.5 hours before - Departed: KCNO, Chino, CA - Destination: F70, Murrieta, CA - Airport: F70, French Valley Airport, runway 19/36, 6,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 58 total, 47 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KHMT, 10 nm away - METAR: KHMT 201955Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM CLR 21/M01 A3010 ## 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 20250320002489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250320002489A), Mar 20, 2025: Rotorsport Uk Ltd CAVALON, Murrieta, CA, Substantial damage. The student was on a solo cross-country flight to complete her student solo cross country requirement hours. The cross-country plan was kcno (chino) to F70 to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199898. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18643965&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18644844&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20photos-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.