MELROSE – Two people died when their small gyroplane crashed and burned in a pasture on July 30.
According to the Floria Highway Patrol, the experimental aircraft crashed Saturday morning near …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continueDon't have an ID?Print subscribersIf you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. Non-subscribersClick here to see your options for subscribing. Single day passYou also have the option of purchasing 24 hours of access, for $1.00. Click here to purchase a single day pass. |
MELROSE – Two people died when their small gyroplane crashed and burned in a pasture on July 30.
According to the Floria Highway Patrol, the experimental aircraft crashed Saturday morning near County Road 214 and Melrose Road after it “fell from the sky,” Lori Pelcher told Action News Jax.
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said it appeared the pilot steered the disabled helicopter away from a house before impact.
“In probably a last heroic moment, the person that was operating the gyrocopter crashed in between almost two buildings, a small barn type building and a house,” she said. “He was probably within 100 feet of the house.”
Both died at the scene, FHP said. The agency doesn’t release the identities of anyone involved in accidents.
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
A gyroplane, also known as an autogyro, is a type of rotorcraft that uses an unpowered rotor in free autorotation to develop lift. It uses an engine to create forward thrust.