Guimbal Cabri G2 accident near Independence, Iowa, January 21, 2020
On January 21, 2020 at about 10:15 pm local time, a 2019 Guimbal Cabri G2 (helicopter), registered N715RK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Independence, Iowa (Independence Municipal Airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while maneuvering to land, which resulted in impact with an airplane and a hangar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2020 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Independence, Iowa · Independence Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Guimbal Cabri G2, built 2019
- Registration
- N715RK · no longer on the register · serial 1255
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot reported that he "lost control" of the helicopter as he maneuvered over the ramp for a landing toward the south into wind. The student was unable to regain control of the helicopter, and it subsequently impacted an unoccupied airplane and a hangar. Airport security video footage showed the helicopter approaching the ramp in a hover-taxi heading east before it entered an increasingly rapid left spin as it drifted north toward the airplane and hangar. A review of the video of the accident did not reveal any evidence of a bird strike or visible hydraulic systems failure. The helicopter cabin and tailboom sustained substantial damage. The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The student stated that the wind direction might have changed during the landing; however, a postaccident review of available weather data revealed that the wind was likely from the south about 12 to 13 knots.
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
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 154.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 12, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,543 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 154 hours total
- Operator: University Of Dubuque
The flight
- Departed from: MXO Monticello IA at 9:25 pm
- Destination: IIB Independence IA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from IIB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on July 17, 2020. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Conversation (Qasem Jaafari) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement (Ryan Cavin) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector Statement (Brian Lundquist) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Airport Security Video 1 | video | View Download |
| 6 | Airport Security Video 2 | video | View Download |
| 7 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Weather | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Memorandum of Conversation (Brian Lundquist) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Security Video - Specialist's Study Report | PDF, 15 pages | 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.