Aircraft "Spiraled Downwards" From Downwind Leg

The first instruction flight in a Chinook two seat tandem pusher ultralight trainer aircraft (pictured at bottom) went astray when the aircraft appeared to have spiraled or spun in while on a down wind leg. Conditions were calm and VFR...

NTSB Identification: CEN09LA331
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, May 29, 2009 in Bridgeport, TX
Aircraft: GENTRY JOHN K CHINOOK PL, registration: N31773
Injuries: 2 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On May 29, 2009, approximately 1130 central daylight time, N31773, an experimental Gentry Chinook Plus 2 ultralight, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees in a nose down attitude while preparing to land at the Sears private airstrip near Bridgeport, Texas. The certified flight instructor and the private pilot were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane and talked with the private pilot's wife. According to the inspector, the wife stated that this was her husband's first flight in this airplane. She stated that after her husband and the instructor departed, they made two circuits around the private airstrip and were on the third circuit when she observed the airplane's left wing dip downwards while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The airplane then spiraled downwards into the trees. She did not recall hearing any engine noise at the time of the accident.

Weather at Bridgeport Municipal Airport (XBP), Bridgeport, Texas, about six miles northwest of the accident site, at 1025, was reported as winds from 130 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 26 degrees Celsius, 16 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.11 inches.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov