# NTSB WPR26LA137: Salt Lake Gyrocopters Calidus, N247WR, Fairfield, UT, March 23, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 23, 2026, 12:39 local (18:39 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, UT · Western Desert Airpark - UT9 - Coordinates: 40.24253, -112.09111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2425&lon=-112.0911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA Salt Lake FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202690 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202690/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202690 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA137 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was nose wheel misalignment at touchdown. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Salt Lake Gyrocopters CALIDUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05642T8), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Salt Lake Gyrocopters CALIDUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05642T8), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Salt Lake Gyrocopters CALIDUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05642T8), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Salt Lake Gyrocopters CALIDUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05642T8), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Salt Lake Gyrocopters CALIDUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=05642T8), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while conducting touch-and-go landings in the traffic pattern, the gyrocopter touched down on the main landing gear. When the nose wheel contacted the runway, the gyrocopter swerved abruptly and began bouncing left-to-right, then rolled over, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage and main rotor system. The pilot could not recall the airspeed when the nose wheel made contact. He further stated that the nose wheel may not have been aligned with the direction of travel at touchdown, which could result in an abrupt loss of control. The pilot added that the nose wheel steering was connected to the pedals and rudder system and that both systems were functioning normally prior to the accident. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyrocopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N247WR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N247WR), registered now, S/N C000559, built 2024 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SALT LAKE GYROCOPTERS LLC CALIDUS - Registry model: [Salt Lake Gyrocopters CALIDUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/salt-lake-gyrocopters-calidus) (registry code 05642T8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 915 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-915-is-series) (registry code 55620, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: C000559 - Year built: 2024 - Airframe hours: 168.2 - Engines: Rotax 915iS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Blackbird Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 2026, 43 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: UT9, West Desert Airpark, runway 17, 5,200 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 30, 2026; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 139 total, 49 in this make and model, 84 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 17 nm away - METAR: METAR KPVU 231756Z 00000KT 10SM FEW110 14/06 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP155 6//// T01390056 10139 20106 58001 PNO $ ## 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 20260323006949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260323006949A), Mar 23, 2026: Salt Lake Gyrocopters LLC CALIDUS, Fairfield, UT, Substantial damage. The pilot was performing touch and go's on runway 17. The event occured on their fourth circuit of the pattern. After touchdown the aircraft stability… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202690. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20217425&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA137%20-%206120.1-%20Pilot%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20217780&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA137%20-%20Record%20of%20conversation%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20217435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA137%20-%20Photo%20Array-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.