- Date
- May 13, 2026, 15:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place
- Palo Alto, CA · PAO
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N40CTAutogyro Cavalon
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 1, 2026
- 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
- 20260513009579A
- Case key
- 203008
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 directional control during the landing roll, in gusting crosswind conditions.
Findings · 5
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 of the gyrocopter reported that during his approach to land on runway 31, the reported wind information indicated a gusting crosswind from the left. On final approach the gyrocopter required left stick and right rudder inputs to remain lined up with the runway. The pilot queried the air traffic control tower for the current wind conditions prior to landing, and was told 250° at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot intended to touch down with the left main landing gear wheel first, however, a wind gust pushed the gyrocopter to the right and the right main landing gear wheel “came down hard.” The pilot released the crosswind correction input and moved the control stick to the center, and the gyrocopter continued toward the right side of the runway. The gyrocopter subsequently exited the right side of the runway, rolled over and came to rest on its right side. The fuselage and main rotor driveshaft were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40CT
- Reported as
- Autogyro Cavalon
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- V00300
- Built
- 2018
- Airframe hours
- 200
- Engine
- Rotax 914UL, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · April 15, 2026 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- O69 · Petaluma, CA
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- KPAO · Palo Alto Airport, runway 31, 2,441 × 70 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic multifunction display
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
- 79
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 6, 2024
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,662 total · 148 in this make and model · 1,389 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- KPAO
- METAR
- METAR KPAO 132047Z 29012G19KT 10SM SKC 21/09 A3013
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2026, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.5 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.