Amateur-built Titanium Explorer accident near Falcon, Colorado, September 4, 2023
On September 4, 2023 at about 1:45 am local time, a 2017 amateur-built Titanium Explorer (gyroplane), registered N467TE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Falcon, Colorado (Meadow Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to establish a proper airspeed before becoming airborne, which resulted in an inability to climb out of ground effect and subsequent hard landing. Contributing to the accident was high-density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2023 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Falcon, Colorado · Meadow Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Titanium Explorer, built 2017
- Registration
- N467TE · no longer on the register · serial 0046-1117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during takeoff, the gyroplane became airborne after reaching 55 kts and was unable to climb out of ground effect. The pilot reported that he attempted a 180° turn to conduct a forced landing on the runway; however, the gyroplane descended rapidly during the turn and landed hard on the turf in the runway safety area. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rotor and airframe. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated further that he should have delayed rotation until 60 to 65 kts to achieve the proper climb. Density altitude at the time of the accident was about 9,350 ft, which would have further decreased climb performance.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 338.3 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 16.3 in the last 90 days; 8.9 in the last 30 days; 256.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 7, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 374.2 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 12, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,267 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914UL (piston); 374 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,001 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from KFLY, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFLY 040135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT120 22/07 A3010 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW T02190072=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 28, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA 8083-21 Rotorcraft Flying Handbook Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA P-8740-02 | PDF, 8 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.