20010522011049A

(.19)On may 22, 2001, at 1800 central daylight time, a gideon wittman tailwind W8 experimental, amateur-built airplane, N3GJ, was destroyed during takeoff from Wolfe airpark airport, Manvel, Texas. The flight instructor sustained fatal injuries and the private pilot receiving instruction, who was the owner of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 code of federal regulations part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from the Wolfe airpark airport. According to witnesses, the airplane was executing touch-and-go landings on runway 02. The airplane landed, accelerated for takeoff, and lifted off the ground approximately 600-700 feet from the departure end of the runway. The airplane attained a height of 20 feet AGL and "immediately the right wing dropped slightly, and corrected back to level." Subsequently, "the right wing dropped to about a 45 degree angle, stopped slightly, and then continued to drop to a full 90 degree down position." The airplane's right wing contacted the ground, cartwheeled, and came to rest adjacent to a tree. The airplane was consumed by fire. (-23) on may 22, 2001, at 1800 CDT time, a gideon rossouw wittman tailwind W8, experimental amateur-built airplane, N3GJ, was destroyed during takeoff from Wolfe aripark, Manvel, Texas. The flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction, who was the owner of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 CFR part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from the Wolfe airpark airport. According to eyewitnesses, the airplane had executed several touch and go landings on runway 02. On the last touch and go landing the aircraft lifted off the ground approximately 600-700 feet from the departure end of the runway. According to witnesses, the airplane attained a height of 20 feet AGL and "immediately the right wing dropped slightly, and corrected back to level, then "the right wing dropped to about a 45 degree angle, stopped slightly, and then continued to drop to a full 90 degree down position". The airplane's wing contacted the ground, cartwheeled, and came to rest adjacent to a tree. The airplane was consumed by fire within 5 to 10 seconds after impact. (.4) the flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were executing touch-and-go landings on the 2,190-foot grass runway. The airplane landed, accelerated for takeoff, and lifted off the ground approximately 600-700 feet from the departure end of the runway. A witness reported that the airplane attained a height approximately 20 feet AGL and "immediately the right wing dropped slightly, and corrected back to level." Subsequently, "the right wing dropped to about a 45-degree angle, stopped slightly, and then continued to drop to a full 90 degree down position." The airplane's right wing contacted the ground, the airplane began to cartwheel and came to rest against a tree. The airplane was consumed by a post crash fire. The airframe and engine were examined and no anomalies were found that would preclude normal operation of the airplane.