The National Transportation Safety Board recently released a preliminary report that provides new details into a March 25 gyrocopter crash in Gainesville that left one man dead.
Larry Franklin Preiss, 75, of Gainesville, died in the crash at about 2 p.m. near Clarks Bridge Road.
The new report from the NTSB states Preiss' wife told investigators Preiss wanted to fly early that day due to higher wind speeds that would occur later that day. She also told investigators Preiss had recently decided to start flying again and put together the experimental Silverlight Aviation AR-1 gyrocopter himself.
Preiss' wife also told investigators that Preiss had met with a mechanic in the weeks leading up to the fatal crash to make sure that the aircraft was in "good, working condition." Preiss' wife stated that Preiss would typically fly out of the Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville, fly to Cornelia, land, and then fly back.
A witness stated they were outside their home when they heard a loud crash near their neighbor's home. The witness contacted local authorities and proceeded to the neighbor's home, where they found the wreckage in a cow pasture.
A review of preliminary data found that the aircraft left Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport heading north and cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet. The aircraft made a series of turns around the Gainesville area before the data ended. Examination of the wreckage determined the gyrocopter became entangled with a powerline 50 feet off the ground shortly before the crash.
Investigators found about 20 feet of the powerline entangled in the rotor head at the crash site.
The NTSB retained the wreckage for further examination.
