Tuesday, November 03, 2020

AutoGyro MTOSport, N455WM: Fatal accident occurred November 03, 2020 in Whitewater, Butler County, Kansas

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas
Location: Whitewater, KS
Accident Number: ANC21LA004
Date & Time: November 3, 2020, 13:41 Local 
Registration: N455WM
Aircraft: AutoGyro MTO Sport
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On November 3, 2020, about 1341 Central Standard Time, an experimental, amateur built MTO Sport AutoGyro, N455WM, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Whitewater, Kansas. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The gyroplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations 91 personal flight.

The gyroplane had departed from McMaster Gliderport (29KS), about 5 miles northeast of Wichita, Kansas. A witness, who was about 5.8 miles away from the accident site, stated that a small green helicopter type aircraft had entered Whitewater, Kansas from the south and flown around the local area. The aircraft then departed their line of sight as it flew in a south east direction. According to the witness the engine sounded normal, and the aircraft appeared to be flying above the tree line at about 300 ft in elevation. The witness did not observe the accident sequence.

A local landowner observed smoke originating from a field and notified local authorities who responded to the accident site. The gyroplane came to rest in a grass field on a southerly heading in a nose down attitude at an elevation of about 1,630 ft mean sea level. The forward fuselage was buried about two ft below the field’s surface and the airframe was consumed by a postcrash fire. All major components of the gyroplane were located at the accident site.

The gyroplane has been recovered and a detailed examination is pending.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AutoGyro
Registration: N455WM
Model/Series: MTO Sport Aircraft
Category: Gyroplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEWK,1532 ft msl 
Observation Time: 13:56 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 13 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C /6°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 19 knots / , 190°
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: 
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal 
Latitude, Longitude: 37.934433,-97.060125 (est)

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. 

Kerry Trent
March 19, 1962 - November 3, 2020 

Wichita, Kansas - Kerry Eugene Trent, Maj ARNG (Ret.), age 58, "slipped the surly bonds of earth…and touched the face of God" Tuesday, November 3, 2020 in a gyrocopter accident doing what he loved – flying.

Kerry is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Shelly D Trent (Burns), and son Kole Eli Trent of Wichita, KS, his parents Kenneth and Jane Trent of Paducah, TX and his Aunt Jan (Trent) Dickson of Lufkin, TX.

Following in his father's footsteps, Kerry joined the Army in 1980 after graduating high school. He began his enlisted career at Ft Bragg, North Carolina where he was in the 82nd Airborne. He left the Army in 1984 and attended West Texas State University where he completed his degree and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1988.

He served active duty tours in Grenada – Operation Urgent Fury in 1983 and Panama - Operation Just Cause in 1989 and as an Oklahoma National Guardsman in Afghanistan – Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003. He served as the Commanding Officer of Delta Company 1-179 in Ponca City, OK prior to his service in Afghanistan and formed close and lasting friendships with his troop from that unit.

Military accomplishments include - Combat Infantryman Badge with star, Expert Infantry Man Badge, Master Parachutist Badge with Combat Distinction Device, 1 Bronze Star, Ranger Tab, Overseas Service Bar, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device.

Kerry was awarded several medals, including Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Expert Marksmanship Qualification.

Common to all of his values was a sense of adventure, physical strength, determination, and courage. When he set a goal, he didn't waver – ever! Kerry was known for his strong individual personality, a sharp wit, and a drive for adventure. Growing up in Paducah Texas he loved riding, calf-roping, being a cowboy and outdoorsman. He was a musician; had a talent for the trumpet and was in the honor band. He played the piano, drums and guitar. He bought a 1969 Z-28 Camaro in 1978, which he kept and fully restored 30 years later. This was the beginning of Kerry's love of motion: cars, motorcycles, and airplanes. In his early thirties he left active military duty and completed civilian flight school and started his second career as a professional pilot, which he continued until he was medically retired in 2017. Flying was not just a vocation for him; it was the most intensely loved of all his interests.

As for personality, no one would call Kerry boring. He had a gift for mimicry, humor, and storytelling. His personal quirks were entertaining, as well. He dressed as he pleased and bragged that he hadn't owned a pair of underwear since the 1980s. He succeeded in doing things "his way" for all of his life. He would do anything for his friends and family and often hosted dove and fish fries for his friends.

More important than all of Kerry's identities, talents, and personal qualities are these: He was a devoted husband, father, and son. His family never doubted his love. His Christian beliefs are reflected in his favorite scripture which he kept taped to the refrigerator door: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8. He began every day with a devotional reading, and he lived by another favorite scripture: "Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more." Luke 12:48

A graveside service will be held at Buck Creek Cemetery, Paducah, TX on Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 1:00 pm. The family requests donations, in lieu of flowers, to the Kansas Food Bank, 1919 E. Douglas, Wichita Ks or the Buck Creek Cemetery Association, Paducah Texas.

Shannon Tucker

53, Police Officer, died Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Survived by his father, Kenneth W. Tucker; mother, Martha G. Tucker; daughter, Jersey Lea Tucker; aunt, Valetta Huff; cousin, Tasha Hardy. Downing & Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.


BUTLER COUNTY, Kansas (KWCH) - Two men died Tuesday afternoon after the AutoGyro MTOSport they were in crashed in Butler County, southwest of Potwin.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said around 1:30 pm., the AutoGyro MTOSport was flying southbound into a field at 7800 NW Tawakoni Road when it crashed into a field for unknown reasons. 

Kansas Highway Patrol said the men took off from the McMaster Gliderport (29KS) in Wichita.

The men were identified as 58-year-old Kerry Trent and 53-year-old Shannon Tucker, both of Wichita.

1 comment:

  1. The aircraft fairing is made from composites. Its 8.4 m (27.6 ft) diameter rotor has a chord of 20 cm (7.9 in). The aircraft has an empty weight of 245 kg (540 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (990 lb), giving a useful load of 205 kg (452 lb).[1]

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