Salt Lake Gyrocopters LLC CALIDUS accident near Fairfield, Utah, March 23, 2026
On March 23, 2026 at about 6:39 pm local time, a 2024 Salt Lake Gyrocopters LLC CALIDUS (gyroplane), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N247WR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Fairfield, Utah (West Desert Airpark airport). 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 maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was nose wheel misalignment at touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 2026 · about 6:39 pm local time
- Place
- Fairfield, Utah · West Desert Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Salt Lake Gyrocopters LLC CALIDUS, built 2024, amateur-built
- Registration
- N247WR · registry record · serial C000559
- 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 conducting touch-and-go landings in the traffic pattern, the gyrocopter touched down on the main landing gear. When the nose wheel contacted the runway, the gyrocopter swerved abruptly and began bouncing left-to-right, then rolled over, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage and main rotor system. The pilot could not recall the airspeed when the nose wheel made contact. He further stated that the nose wheel may not have been aligned with the direction of travel at touchdown, which could result in an abrupt loss of control. The pilot added that the nose wheel steering was connected to the pedals and rudder system and that both systems were functioning normally prior to the accident. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Roll over during landing (landing roll)
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
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 139 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 30, 2026
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 168.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 24, 2026; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,234 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 915iS (piston); 168 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from KPVU, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPVU 231756Z 00000KT 10SM FEW110 14/06 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP155 6//// T01390056 10139 20106 58001 PNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of aircraft from front right
Photograph 2 – View of aircrafts left side
Photograph 3 – View of aircraft from rear right
Photograph 4 - View of aircraft from rear left
Photograph 5 - View of aircraft tail sectionThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 25, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | 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.