Plane Crash In Jefferson County An experimental gyro-plane crash landed at Jefferson County Airpark Saturday afternoon.

When police and fire arrived on the scene, they found a wrecked aircraft lying on its side along the runway, and a dazed pilot standing by. He was unhurt.

The pilot said he crashed while attempting to land the home-built gyroplane. He came in from 1800 feet, and lost control near the runway.

After he climbed out of the recked aircraft, an employee at Jefferson Airpark called police. Emergency personnel arrived on scene just minutes after the crash.

"Speaking with the pilot, he claimed it was pilot error is what caused the crash," said Ed Pfouts, of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Pilot error is right. Investigators said he didn't have a license to fly the gyro-plane, and shouldn't have been there in the first place.

"He has been cited for not having a pilots liscense, and this type of aircraft does require a gyrocopter rating," siad Philip Bender, of the Ohio Highway Patrol Air Division.

After police contacted the FAA, they were instructed to tow the gyro-plane to a secure hanger for further investigation.

The nearly $30,000 plane is a total loss, and the pilot didn't have insurance.

Investigators said he's lucky, because this could have been a serious accident. They said aircraft design is what saved him.

"This one appears to be a very well built aircraft," Bender said. "It did everything it was designed to do, especially the way it survived the crash."

The crash is still under investigation. The FAA will get involved and decide what to do with the pilot since he wasn't licensed to fly.

As for the pilot, he said he'll never fly again.

Submitted on 12/25/2005

Submitted by: Iain Macdonald
Reference: http://www.wtov9.com/news/5645

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

Greg said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
He made a good effort to terminate his existence! Lucky for him, his engineering was a darned sight better than his flying! I like the story ...

James said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I always like a good aviation yarn! This story rather reminds me of those old silent movie clips depicting would-be flying contraptions! Whatever the case, I'm rather glad this would-be flyboy is now grounded for good!

Tracy said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
Worth a try!

Jack said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I'll go for an Honorable Mention on this one.

Charles said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
Without further evidence, I'll guess this was a "kit plane". Gyros are hard to design... But that said, I'm surprised that he made it off the ground in one piece, much less back on the ground... a pilot's license is not something you get easily, and he may have not had any flying lessons at all.

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