19 September 2008
There is uncertainty surrounding the future of Cessna’s C162 Skycatcher programme following the crash of a prototype in Kansas yesterday.
The pilot parachuted to safety from the aircraft and was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The aircraft apparently in trees near the town of Douglass.
A Cessna spokesman told local reporters that this particular airframe had around 150 hours. Local reports also suggest that witnesses heard ‘a loud pop’ followed by ‘sparks and the plane spiraling down’.
The Skycatcher programme is Cessna’s entry into the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) market. It is an all-metal aircraft, and the type is expected to be powered by a 100hp Continental 0-200D (although it hasn’t been confirmed that this was the engine in this example).
The first Skycatcher is currently due to be delivered in the first half of 2009, although this crash is likely to affect that schedule. Over 1,000 Skycatchers are on order.
