Amateur-built ELA10 accident near Morris, Illinois, December 23, 2025
On December 23, 2025 at about 7:36 pm local time, a 2021 amateur-built ELA10 (gyroplane), registered N396S, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Morris, Illinois (Morris Municipal Airport / Jam). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure obtain the proper rotor rpm before applying power for the takeoff roll which resulted in a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2025 · about 7:36 pm local time
- Place
- Morris, Illinois · Morris Municipal Airport / Jam · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ELA10, built 2021
- Registration
- N396S · registry record · serial 08175411014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot taxied to the runway with the rotor still spinning from his previous landing, maintaining above a 100 rotor rpm on his gyroplane. As he taxied onto the runway, he noted his rotor rpm at 117 and he began to accelerate to build rotor speed, pitching back slightly. The pilot heard a loud pop and thinking he may have blown a tire on his right main landing gear, he glanced over to visually confirm it. He then checked his rotor rpm and found it had decreased to 80. At that same time, the gyroplane began to shake and then quickly turned over on its right side and came to rest on the left side of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage and main rotor. According to the manufacturer’s pilot operating handbook (POH), when taxiing the rotor is to be aligned with the gyroplane (stationary). The rotor pre-rotation procedure instructs the pilot to “increase engine power slowly until reaching 220 rotor rpm” and has a caution message that states, “CAUTION Start the take-off with the rotor between 150-200 rpm requires a high skill. It is forbidden to proceed with take-off operations if the rotor is under 150 rpm.” It is likely that the pilot did not have sufficient rotor rpm to avoid rotor flap during the takeoff roll based on his statement. Whether the flat tire occurred during the takeoff or as a result of the gyroplane rolling over on its side was not determined.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of policy/procedure › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor system › Main rotor blade system › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 379.6 hours in all; 54.2 in this make and model; 22.6 in the last 90 days; 13.7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 96.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,170 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914 (piston); 966 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from KC09
Weather report (METAR): METAR KC09 231935Z AUTO 28006KT 10SM CLR 09/05 A3009 RMK AO2 T00890045=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Operator's Handbook | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N396S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.