One Was A 13-Year-Old Boy, A Friend Of The Pilot's Son

An investigation is underway following an accident Sunday at St. John the Baptist Parish Airport (1L0) in Reserve, LA that resulted in the fatal injury of two people on board a gyrocopter.

The New Orleans Advocate reports that the accident fatally injured the pilot, 47-year-old Darren Mahler, and 13-year-old Payton Wilt, described as a "family friend" who lived in Mahler's neighborhood.

According to witness Joe Murray, a commissioner with the Port of South Louisiana and chairman of its Aviation Committee, the aircraft had taken off at about 5:00 p.m. local time. It had reached an altitude of about 300 feet when it suddenly veered to the west as the main rotor blades folded upwards. The aircraft went down in a nearby canal.

Murray said there appeared to be a problem with the pusher propeller on the aircraft.

The gyrocopter was registered as an experimental amateur-built aircraft powered by a Subaru engine.

The paper reports that Mahler's son had also gone to the airport, and was going to fly with his dad after his friend had gone for a flight.

(Image provided by the Port of South Louisiana)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov