Crash of a Magni M24 Orion Plus gyroplane at High Valley Airpark (GA87), Suches, Georgia (11/26/22)

On November 26, 2022, at about 1226 local time, a Magni M24 Orion Plus gyroplane, N728RJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at High Valley Airpark (GA87), Suches, Georgia. The pilot was not injured, but the passenger sustained serious injuries.
The gyroplane pilot reported that he initiated his takeoff midway down the runway with a tailwind. After takeoff, the angle of climb was shallower than expected and the pilot determined that he may not clear the trees beyond the runway's departure end. He attempted to turn back toward the runway; however, the gyroplane had insufficient altitude and impacted the brush. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tail section and the passenger was seriously injured. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he gave up safety margin unnecessarily. He stated that he should have performed a full-length departure into the wind.
Probable Cause: The pilot's decision to take off from the runway midpoint with a tailwind, which resulted in impact with terrain.

[@MikeBarnett1776]

Thanks for including the official report info.

[@CherylPix62]

It’s just like the wind said ‘not this way bub’! Glad they were able to walk away from the crash!

[@AvStevieStevenJamesDrums]

Yikes

[@jayknight850]

Wind sock…..in the big end, out the little end

[@WX4CB]

" He stated that he should have performed a full-length departure into the wind." .... ya think! glad they "walked" away for sure. but tailwind and a half runway takeoff???

[@abidfarooqui4899]

Exactly

[@harrybaulz666]

Try again tomorrow

[@mh53eflyguy]

Looks like they forgot the 100% Columbian coffee, the richest coffee in the world. Handpicked by Jaun Valdez.

[@CherylPix62]

I sure don’t forget my Columbian coffee, I drink anywhere from half of a pot to a full pot daily! 😊

[@pauljoseph8338]

Those crazy whirlybirds are death traps. Sooo many vids of those contraptions falling out of the sky…

[@davidkavanagh189]

They aren't. They're just not operated properly. They appear simple but flying one requires a much higher level of knowledge and skill than a typical single fixed wing aircraft. The training requirements in most jurisdictions are stupidly low, especially for fixed wing pilots transitioning.

[@leifvejby8023]

Still falling out of the sky, those autogyros, but at least they don't stall and spin, so Cierva did get that right.

[@rossbremner5125]

So many? Robinson R22s and 44s are like ...hold my beer

[@abidfarooqui4899]

so the pilot had nothing to do with this accident. It was the whirlybird. Ok. I am sorry but this pilot was a dummy. Departure into the wind from a short and soft field with trees lined up in hilly terrain. I mean Duh. That is like flying 101

[@davidkavanagh189]

@@abidfarooqui4899 Precisely and, if you look at gyro accidents, 90% are due to pilot error/bad education.

[@Cowdog1]

The real tragedy here; vertical video.🫥