OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Preliminary results of an investigation into a fatal midair collision at EAA AirVenture failed to find any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have contributed to the crash.
The collision between a gyroplane and a helicopter happened July 29. The National Transportation Safety Board says the gyroplane was approaching the Ultralight/Homebuilt Rotorcraft runway from the south when it turned 360 degrees to the left. The helicopter was behind the gyroplane in the traffic pattern and also approaching the runway from the south. About 250 feet above ground, the gyroplane hit the left side of the helicopter.
Both aircraft fell nearly straight down. The helicopter hit the ground, came to rest upside-down and burst into flames. The helicopter was destroyed and the pilot, 69-year-old Mark Peterson of Foley, Alabama, and his passenger, 72-year-old Thomas Volz from Clermont County, Ohio, were killed.
The gyroplane hit a parked, unoccupied plane when it landed. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger received minor injuries.
According to the preliminary NTSB report, skies were clear and there was about an 8 mph wind.
The collision shut down aircraft operations at the airport for about two hours. It came just hours after another plane crashed into Lake Winnebago, killing two people on board.
