NTSB: Rule Violation Contributed to Fatal Midair Collision at EAA AirVenture

Investigators concluded that a gyroplane violated event rules by making a prohibited 360-degree turn before colliding with a helicopter.

Monday, May 20, 2024 at 04:45 PM ET

Verified

Flight tracks of the helicopter (red) and gyroplane (yellow) involved in a 2023 midair in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. [Courtesy: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB concluded that a fatal midair collision at EAA AirVenture was caused by a gyroplane violating event rules.
The gyroplane performed a prohibited 360-degree turn in the traffic pattern, colliding with a helicopter.
The helicopter's pilot and passenger died in the collision, while the gyroplane's occupants sustained serious injuries.
Both pilots had attended a briefing where such 360-degree turns by gyroplanes were explicitly prohibited.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its final report on last year’s fatal midair collision at EAA AirVenture, concluding that the crash occurred when a gyroplane violated event rules by making a prohibited 360-degree turn and collided with a helicopter.

According to the NTSB report, both pilots attended a rotorcraft briefing, where event coordinators told gyroplane pilots to stop performing 360-degree turns and spirals while in the traffic pattern for Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Amelia Walsh

Amelia Walsh is a private pilot who enjoys flying her family’s Columbia 350. She is based in Colorado and loves all things outdoors including skiing, hiking, and camping.