Amateur-built VORTEX accident near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, August 6, 2005
On August 6, 2005 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built VORTEX (gyroplane), registered N42923, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee (Lawrenceburg County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flair, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2005 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lawrenceburg, Tennessee · Lawrenceburg County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VORTEX
- Registration
- N42923 · no longer on the register · serial 066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing taxiing the homebuilt gyrocopter and unintentionally took-off but decided to stay in flight. When the pilot was preparing to land he descended the gyrocopter steeply towards runway 35. The pilot pulled back on the "stick" to flare out, and stated that the gyrocopter did not respond. The aircraft nosed into the ground. Examination of the accident site revealed the gyrocopter laying on its left side. The main rotor mast was separated from its base, the forward and left main landing gear collapsed and the cockpit roof was detached. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the gyrocopter prior to flight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2M2 Lawrenceburg TN at 4:45 pm
- Destination: 2M2 Lawrenceburg TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from MDQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.