Amateur-built TANGO2 accident near Hayden, Idaho, April 17, 2021
On April 17, 2021 at about 7:05 pm local time, a amateur-built TANGO2 (gyroplane), registered N886T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Hayden, Idaho (Pappy Boyington Field). It was a personal flight 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 to control the pitch attitude of the gyroplane during landing, which resulted in a loss of control, runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2021 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Hayden, Idaho · Pappy Boyington Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TANGO2
- Registration
- N886T · registry record · serial 20021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the gyroplane reported that, during a touch-and-go landing to the runway, the gyroplane floated, and the front wheel contacted the runway. He attempted to regain control, but the gyroplane veered off the runway and came to rest on its side. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 31 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 11, 2021
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 5, 2021; 3.3 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Yamaha (piston); 3 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02-2, 5,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from KCOE, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCOE 171856Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 18/M03 A3029 RMK AO2 SLP277 T01781033
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2021. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | 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.