Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain pitch and yaw control during takeoff.
NTSB analysis
The solo student pilot of the gyroplane reported that, during takeoff, he pulled the stick back and advanced the throttle to full. He accelerated and noticed "there was no tendency for the nose to rise," so he applied back pressure, and the gyroplane immediately turned left, rolled onto its side, and skidded off the runway to the left.
The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the main rotor, fuselage, and empennage.
The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The flight instructor provided a video of the student pilot's accident takeoff. The video showed the gyroplane accelerating down the runway, rapidly pitching up, and immediately rotating to the left before impacting the runway.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA484 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 9, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Spanish Fork, Utah
- Nearest airport
- Spanish Fork Arpt Springville- (SPK)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Airgyro Aviation Llc TERCEL
- N-number
- N557AT
- Category
- Gyroplane
- Year built
- 2017
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.