Amateur-built ELA ECLIPSE 10 accident near Yuma, Arizona, November 17, 2023
On November 17, 2023, a 2017 amateur-built ELA ECLIPSE 10 (gyroplane), registered N82TK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Yuma, Arizona (Yuma Mcas/Yuma Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a 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
- November 17, 2023
- Place
- Yuma, Arizona · Yuma Mcas/Yuma Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ELA ECLIPSE 10, built 2017
- Registration
- N82TK · registry record · serial 04175271014
- 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, he encountered a gusting wind, causing the gyroplane to veer left to the grass. Subsequently, the gyroplane collided with the runway hold short sign, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll) 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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 17,722 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 16,938 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 5, 2023
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 291 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 12, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,170 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914 (piston); 291 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 5,710 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 5:57 pm from KNYL, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KNYL 170057Z COR 25004KT 7SM BKN070 19/15 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP138 T01940150 $
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 February 8, 2024. 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, 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.