Amateur-built TAURUS accident near Strawberry Reservoir, Utah, March 11, 2023
On March 11, 2023 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2017 amateur-built TAURUS (gyroplane), registered N553AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Strawberry Reservoir, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the snow-covered lake while flying at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 2023 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Strawberry Reservoir, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TAURUS, built 2017
- Registration
- N553AT · no longer on the register · serial T&S F26917S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while flying low over a snow-covered frozen lake, the gyrocopter was closer to the surface than he realized. The pilot increased engine power to attempt to climb away from the surface, however, the nosewheel impacted snow on the surface and the gyrocopter nosed over, rolled, and came to rest on its side. The fuselage, horizontal stabilizer, and rudders were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyrocopter 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Snowy/icy terrain › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 550.3 hours in all; 33.2 in this make and model; 13.1 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 489 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL 2-01 (turboshaft); 140 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPVU Provo UT at 5:49 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from KPVU, 27 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPVU 111756Z VRB05KT 10SM FEW060 SCT100 BKN200 03/M05 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP164 T00331050 10039 21017 51008
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2023. 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, 17 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | 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.
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.