Silverlight Aviation AR-1 accident near Lakeside, Oregon, June 29, 2021
On June 29, 2021 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2017 Silverlight Aviation AR-1 (helicopter), registered N159WT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lakeside, Oregon (Lakeside Muni airport). It was an aerial observation 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate decision to continue the takeoff after sufficient airspeed was not attained and his failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering to avoid obstructions, which resulted in a collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2021 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeside, Oregon · Lakeside Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Silverlight Aviation AR-1, built 2017
- Registration
- N159WT · registry record · serial 0008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he departed from runway 33, which was composed of grass; there was no wind. During the takeoff roll, he was unable to get to an appropriate takeoff velocity. As he neared the end of the runway, he realized the gyrocopter would not clear the trees and at an altitude of about 20 ft agl, he attempted a left 180° turn back to the runway. The gyrocopter collided with the terrain still configured in the left turn. The forward fuselage of the gyrocopter was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot opined that he did not properly compensate for the drag from the grass and was not able to get enough airspeed to make an adequate takeoff.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 239 hours in all; 225,197 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 161 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 27, 2020
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 203 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 2021; 13 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 203 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15/3, 2,150 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from KOTH, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOTH 291856Z 22008KT 10SM OVC022 21/14 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP112 T02060144
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR21LA252.