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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2023 · about 8:52 pm local time
- Place
- Saint Peter, Minnesota · Mankato Rgnl · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24LA006.