April 13, Lakeland, Fla. / Air & Space America 18A

At about 18:30 EDT, an Air & Space 18A gyrocopter crashed while maneuvering in the traffic pattern at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport. The pilot was seriously injured. Witnesses said the aircraft jumped into the air in about 30 to 50 feet, made a right turn down runway 32 climbing to about 150 to 200 feet, turned right crosswind, leveled and climbed another 100 feet. The aircraft then turned right, leveled briefly and began another right bank that continued until the rotor blades were nearly vertical. The gyroplane slid sideways toward the ground and collided with the terrain.