Gyro-copter crash in Kosciusko Co.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - A Missouri man is in serious but stable condition after crashing his gyro-copter Wednesday afternoon in southern Kosciusko County.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the Mentone Airport just after 3:00 after receiving a 911 call of an aircraft crash involving two gyro-copters.

Steven Vanderhoff of Jefferson City, Missouri was trying to land his Air Commander gyro-copter on the runway when a gust of air pushed it toward the grass area. Vanderhoff apparently tried to accelerate to “pull-up,” but it continued into the grass area and hit another gyro-copter that was parked and empty at the time.

Vanderhoff was airlifted from the scene and taken to a Fort Wayne hospital.  He suffered a large cut to his neck from flying debris.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputies contacted the Federal Aviation Association.  The FAA has taken over the investigation.

Damage to Vanderhoff’s aircraft was estimated at $12,000. The parked gyro-copter, which was owned by Matthew Novotney of Crown Point, Indiana, was estimated to have $25,000 of damage. Both aircraft did have FAA-issued identification numbers.