Missouri Man Hurt When Gyro-Copter CrashesMENTONE - A Missouri man was injured Wednesday afternoon when he lost control of his gyro-copter Wednesday afternoon.
Steven Vanderhoff, 60, Jefferson City, Mo., was attempting to land his Air Commander gyro-copter on the runway of the Mentone Airport when he went into a grassy area and lost control.
Vanderhoff and others are in town for the Popular Rotocraft Association convention taking place through Saturday in Mentone.Vanderhoff hit a cross wind while landing that caused his aircraft to collide with one owned by Matthew Novotney, Crown Point.
"I don't think he was anticipating that cross wind," said Dennis Youngberg, Florida, who had accompanied Vanderhoff to the event.
Youngberg said Vanderhoff had nearly 50 hours of flying a gyro-plane and had previous experience in the aviation industry.
Vanderhoff suffered a deep laceration to his neck among other injuries and was airlifted to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, by Samaritan Helicopter.
He was listed in serious but stable condition this morning.
Vandherhoff's aircraft was estimated to have sustained $12,000 in damage while Novotney's was estimated at $25,000.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department was at the scene, but once the Federal Aviation Association arrived they took over the investigation.
Mentone police, fire and EMS were at the scene as well as Multi-Township EMS.
