Pilot dead in gyrocopter crash at Lansing airport
Sun-Times Media September 10, 2012 3:20PM
Maps
Updated: October 12, 2012 6:13AM
LANSING, Ill. — A Gary man died Monday morning after the gyrocopter he was piloting crashed at the Lansing Municipal Airport in Lansing, Ill., according to the Illinois State Police.
Edward Wiggins, 66, was pronounced dead shortly after noon at Community Hospital in Munster. Wiggins resided in the 6900 block of Ironwood Avenue, in the Miller part of Gary.
The crash occurred at 11:30 a.m. at the airport when gyrocopter took off from the runway and crashed at the airport, Lansing Fire Department Lt. Pete Chmura said.
“It hit hard,” Chmura said.
A second gyrocopter was following the first on the runway for takeoff and called emergency officials about the crash, Chmura said.
Both were members of a gyrocopter club that operates at the airport, Chmura said. A gyrocopter or autogyro is a small craft that uses a rotor similar to a helicopter for lift, in conjunction with a propeller used for thrust.
