Amateur-built TRIXY PRINCESS accident near Midland, Texas, August 10, 2015
On August 10, 2015 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 2014 amateur-built TRIXY PRINCESS (gyroplane), registered N743SS, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Midland, Texas (Midland Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning during which he failed to account for the high-density altitude conditions and high gross weight, which degraded the gyroplane's climb performance and 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 10, 2015 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TRIXY PRINCESS, built 2014
- Registration
- N743SS · no longer on the register · serial JDG2013USANA1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The sport pilot was operating the gyroplane near its maximum gross weight on a hot day. He taxied the gyroplane to a position north of the runway intersection and then performed a normal takeoff to the south. During the initial climb, the gyroplane began to lose airspeed. The pilot tried to regain airspeed by lowering the nose, but the airspeed continued to decrease. The pilot conducted a forced landing in a park, during which the gyroplane impacted the ground hard and rolled over on its right side. Examination of the gyroplane, the engine, and other systems revealed no evidence of any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The density altitude was calculated to be 5,850 ft, which would have degraded the gyroplane's climb rate by 75 percent. It is likely the pilot failed to adequately prepare for the flight and did not account for the effects of high density-altitude conditions, high gross weight, and reduced engine performance and that these factors degraded the gyroplane's climb performance such that the pilot was unable to maintain a positive climb rate.
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
What happened, in order
- Roll over during post (impact)
- Collision during takeoff/land during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Performance calculations › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 80 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 13, 2015
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 105 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 10, 2015; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,236 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 TI (piston); 105 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDD Midland TX at 6:00 pm
- Destination: MDD Midland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,977 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KMDD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on January 5, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Passenger's Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement, Mike Massey | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statement, Austin Sikes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Midland Airport Operations Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Midland Airpark VOR Approach with Airfield Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Density Altitude Calculator | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Extract FAA Pamplet 8740-2 Density Altitude | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Evidence Tracking Nesis III EFIS | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Photograph of the Gyroplane Wreckage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.