WHARTON, TX, USA
N7037K
LOWE/BENSEN KB-2
THE PLT OF N7037K WAS IN A FLT OF 2 GYROPLANES, FLYING IN-TRAIL OF THE OTHER ACFT. WHEN LAST SEEN BY THE LEAD PLT, N7037K WAS BEHIND, MAKING A DIVING MANEUVER TOWARD THE GROUND. THE LEAD PLT STATED THAT THRU-OUT THEIR FLT, THE PLT OF THE ADCNT ACFT HAD BEEN FLYING AT ALTITUDES RANGING FM 1000' AGL TO 50' AGL, MAKING STEEP TURNS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TREES & TERRAIN. THE LEAD PLT DID NOT SEE N7037K CRASH, BUT FOUND IT LATER, IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE HE LAST SAW IT. N7037K WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGE; THERE WAS LITTLE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE GYROPLANE AFTER IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACDNT. THE PLT OF N7037K HELD ONLY A STUDENT PLT CERTIFICATE.
POOR JUDGEMENT BY THE STUDENT PILOT BY PERFORMING EXCESSIVE/LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERS, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE (ALTITUDE) ABOVE THE OPEN FIELD. HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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