NTSB Factual Report

On April 22, 2001, at 1630 central daylight time, a Joe Underwood Lazer Z homebuilt experimental airplane, N363WB, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an air show demonstration flight at the Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerobatic demonstration flight.

During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he had just completed an aerobatic maneuver and was flying wings level at 200 mph, approximately 10 feet AGL, down the "show" line on a heading of 150 degrees. He stated that he had established level flight for about 4 to 5 seconds when the aircraft was "suddenly and violently forced straight down until ground impact occured." After a "hard" bounce, the pilot immediately applied "up elevator" and "continued flying the aircraft." The pilot then shut the engine down and glided to a landing on runway 15. The pilot did not experience any "mechanical problems with the aircraft" and it "remained flyable and controllable following the ground impact."

Inspection of the aircraft by a FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that both main landing gear were bent upward into the fuselage, which was buckled.

After the accident, the pilot stated that he believed that the accident was "attributable to a severe wind shear and downdraft coming from a large hangar" located about 300 feet to the southwest of where the aircraft impacted the ground. The pilot reported the winds to be from 190 to 210 degrees at 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain control during the low level maneuver. A contribiting factor was the windshear.