Amateur-built VORTEX accident near Scappoose, Oregon, August 31, 2013
On August 31, 2013 at about 8:57 pm local time, a 2005 amateur-built VORTEX (gyroplane), registered N43259, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Scappoose, Oregon (Scappoose Industrial Airpark 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 student pilot's unintentional takeoff followed by his failure to maintain control of the gyroplane during the landing approach. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot’s lack of both flight training and flight experience and his lack of a solo endorsement.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2013 · about 8:57 pm local time
- Place
- Scappoose, Oregon · Scappoose Industrial Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VORTEX, built 2005
- Registration
- N43259 · registry record · serial 058
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot intended to perform a series of high-speed taxi tests and "crow hops" in the single-seat gyroplane. During the first test, the gyroplane lifted off and climbed to about 30 feet. After flying about half the length of the runway, the pilot reduced engine power for landing, appeared to encounter control difficulties, and then applied power and initiated a go-around. The gyroplane continued to climb and joined the crosswind and then downwind legs of the traffic pattern. As the gyroplane approached the base leg, it rolled aggressively to the left in a nose-high attitude and then rapidly descended to the ground in an uncontrolled manner. Most of the gyroplane's structure was consumed by postimpact fire. Examination of the remaining engine, rotor, and flight control system components did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Witness marks indicated that the engine was producing power during the descent. Damage to the rotor system indicated that the main rotor blades diverged greatly from their track during flight, striking both the forward cabin structure and the engine driven propeller. The student pilot had very limited flight experience and began his flight training in a fixed wing airplane the year prior. He was not approved for and had not conducted solo flight in the accident gyroplane or any other aircraft.
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 takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Student/instructed pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Student/instructed pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Student/instructed pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Total instruct/training recvd › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 26.7 hours in all; 0.1 in this make and model; 8.6 in the last 90 days; 8.6 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 760 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 618 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SPB Scappoose OR
- Destination: SPB Scappoose OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KSPB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.