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FORT WAYNE - Two men remain in serious condition today after their gyroplane crashed Friday near Mentone.
Silas F. Smith, 43, Cedar Lake, and Jamie Bodie, 29, Aiken, S.C., were airlifted to Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne, after the accident Friday afternoon. Both reportedly suffered multiple fractures and bruises.
The men were in the area as Mentone hosted the annual Rotorcraft Convention Fly-In this weekend. The gyroplane crashed north of CR 500S, falling near the roadway.
A Kosciusko County Sheriff's detective did not have any details on the crash this morning since they are unable to interview the two men. An initial report said the gyroplane rolled to one side and then hit the ground at a 30-degree angle.
Investigators are unsure what caused the crash or who was piloting the plane at the time.
Smith was reportedly a licensed instructor of the aircrafts.
A gyroplane is an aircraft with a conventional propeller for forward motion, and a horizontal rotor, rotated by airflow, for lift.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the accident, and officials from the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to arrive today.
