Gyrocopter Pilot Dies In Heber Crash

HEBER CITY, Utah – Utah Highway Patrol investigators have confirmed that a male pilot died after a gyrocopter crashed near the Heber Valley Airport on Wednesday.

Wasatch County officials confirmed emergency crews responded to the aircraft crash along U.S. Highway 189 just after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“We had a red gyrocopter take off from the Heber City Airport,” said UHP Lt. Randall Richey. “For an unknown reason, it veered to the right across the roadway and then crashed here along the side of (Highway) 189 into a drainage culvert.”

A cause for the crash has not been released.

Video from a witness shows a clean takeoff. But less than 30 seconds into the flight, the gyrocopter suddenly plummeted.

UPDATE: Investigators confirm male pilot is deceased; aircraft appears to be a gyrocopter.@KSL5TV #KSLTV #Utah

— Andrew Adams (@AndrewAdamsKSL) December 16, 2020

Officials did not release the man’s name but said he was 76 years old and from Park City. He apparently had only begun flying the gyrocopter within the past few weeks but was an experienced pilot.

As investigators look into the crash, crews said an accident on the highway could have meant an even worse outcome.

“We’re very fortunate that there was only one person involved,” Richey said. “And … that it did miss other traffic on the roadway.”