N786AE

On July 4, 2024, about 1725 mountain daylight time, a Game Composites LLC GB1 Gamebird, N786AE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Irwin, Idaho. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot of another airplane, he and the accident pilot were practicing an aerobatic formation flight for a future airshow within an aerobatic practice area just west of Alpine Airport (46U), Alpine, Wyoming. After completing the formation flight, the pilot maneuvered his airplane away from the aerobatic box while the accident pilot completed solo aerobatic maneuvers.

Witnesses located on the Palisades Reservoir observed the airplane perform a series of solo aerobatic maneuvers. On the last series, they saw the airplane fly nearly vertical, with aerobatic smoke on, where it performed a tight, pivoting turn, to a vertical descent. Immediately after, the airplane entered a flat spin maneuver. After multiple revolutions, the airplane entered a nose low dive, and impacted the water.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted the Palisades Reservoir and came to rest inverted in about 10 ft of water about 1 mile west off the departure end of runway 31 at 46U. Examination of the recovered wreckage revealed that all major components were accounted for. The wreckage was relocated to a secure facility for further examination.