Amateur-built GT-VX2 accident near Saint Peter, Minnesota, October 8, 2023
On October 8, 2023 at about 8:52 pm local time, a 2023 amateur-built GT-VX2 (helicopter), registered N557LJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Saint Peter, Minnesota (Mankato Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering through a river valley.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2023 · about 8:52 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Saint Peter, Minnesota · Mankato Rgnl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GT-VX2, built 2023
- Registration
- N557LJ · registry record · serial VX2-002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a personal flight as part of a flight of two gyroplanes. Bothpilots were flying their gyroplanes at low level through a river valley when the accident occurred. As they approached a bridge, the second pilot climbed his gyroplane; however, the accident pilot remained at a lower altitude after passing over the bridge and subsequently impacted power lines. The second pilot noticed “flashing” below him and observed the accident gyroplane splash into the river. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot was fatally injured. A witness on the ground observed the gyroplane fly directly into the power lines. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private, remote
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 10,392 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 510.8 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 12, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 7, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 763 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 IS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 12Y Le Sueur MN at 8:40 pm
- Destination: MKT Mankato MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from KMKT, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMKT 082050Z AUTO 02009KT 10SM SCT075 16/02 A2993 RMK T01600020 MADISHF,M
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on February 20, 2025. 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 | Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� Schoemaker | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record A�� Witness | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Cockpit Display - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Engine Control Unit - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Engine Control Unit - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 1 - Tabular Data | data file · our copy | Download |
| 9 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N557LJ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 912 IS 879 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Mankato Regional · nearest airport
- LE Sueur Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Minnesota 1,544 since 1982 · 209 in the last ten years
- Minnesota 6,969 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN24LA006.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.