MELROSE, Fla. – Two people died Saturday morning when an experimental helicopter known as a gyrocopter crashed and caught fire on private property off County Road 214 in the Melrose area of Clay County, Sheriff Michelle Cook said.
The sheriff said they started getting calls just after 10 a.m. Saturday about a crash in a private field near a home on 214 in the Melrose area. She said deputies and fire rescue responded and firefighters were able to extinguish a small fire.
According to an FHP report, around 10:10 a.m., the gyrocopter crashed into a residential grass field near County Road 214 and Melrose Road and caught fire on impact.
The two people inside died at the scene, police said.
Cook said FHP is taking the lead in the investigation and any further updates will come from that agency.
She confirmed that the aircraft appeared to be a home-made gyrocopter and described it as “badly disfigured and badly burnt”.
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She said it landed 100 feet from two buildings on either side.
“Unfortunately, two people died, but we’re very fortunate that this gyrocopter didn’t hit a house,” Cook said, adding that it’s possible the operator was able to deliberately avoid buildings in a last-ditch act of heroism before crashing in the field .
A helicopter crash was reported off County Road 214 in the Melrose area of Clay County. (WJXT)
Chronology
Clay County Fire Rescue reported at 10:11 a.m. that crews were on the scene of a downed plane in the area of County Road 214 and Baker Road.
Crews are responding to the scene of a downed plane in the area of the 6500 block of BAKER RD/COUNTY ROAD 214.
— Clay County Fire Rescue (@ClayFireRescue) July 30, 2022
At 11:26 a.m., the Clay County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on social media that a helicopter had crashed in the area and was “still burning.” The fire was extinguished at 11:43 a.m., deputies said.
HELICOPTER CRASH: CCSO and CCFR are on scene working a helicopter crash on C/R 214 in Melrose. The helicopter is still burning. If possible, please avoid the area at this time. Media Area: 7085 C/R 214* Updates will be posted as they become available.* pic.twitter.com/gmfaJa0coQ
— Clay County Florida Sheriff’s Office (@ccsofl) July 30, 2022
Drivers and residents were asked to avoid the area if possible.
At 12:10 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed in a tweet that the two occupants of the “experimental aircraft” died at the scene. FHP said the crash happened on private property on County Road 214 near Melrose Road, which is about a block from Baker Road.
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Fatal plane crash in Clay County. Keystone Heights area. County Road 214 and Melrose Road. Two passengers in an experimental plane crashed on private property. Both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. pic.twitter.com/fvfFfQTRID
— FHPJacksonville (@FHPJacksonville) July 30, 2022
At 12:39 p.m., the National Transportation Safety Board announced that it would investigate the crash of an “experimental T-2 gyroplane” near Melrose.
The NTSB is investigating the July 30 crash of an experimental T-2 gyroplane near Melrose, Florida.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) July 30, 2022
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