Amateur-built CAVALON accident near El Monte, California, March 23, 2022
On March 23, 2022 at about 6:50 pm local time, a 2013 amateur-built CAVALON (gyroplane), registered N1688B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near El Monte, California (San Gabriel Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s diverted attention during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 2022 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- El Monte, California · San Gabriel Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CAVALON NO SERIES, built 2013
- Registration
- N1688B · registry record · serial V00123
- 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 the landing roll, he diverted his attention to the dial of the rotor rpm and the gyroplane inadvertently ascended when he did not hold the control stick steady. He attempted to regain control by pushing the control stick forward, but the gyroplane rolled to the right, and the main rotor blade contacted the ground. The gyroplane came to rest on its left side and sustained substantial damage to the stabilizer and rudder. 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 (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 471.4 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 12.7 in the last 90 days; 3.1 in the last 30 days; 471.4 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 27, 2020
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 231.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Brp Powertrain Rotax 914 UL (piston); 232 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,995 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from KEMT
Weather report (METAR): SA 23/03/2022 17:50-> METAR KEMT 231750Z 13007KT 10SM CLR 28/01 A3014=
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 2, 2022. 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 | Photo | 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.
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 WPR22LA134.