Cheetah; Tiger; Traveler AA5 Series
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 850; Flight Crew Type 500
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
While on a single-pilot training/proficiency flight; I was practicing engine-out landing at home airport (GEZ). As I turned short left base for Runway 01; a two-ship flight of A-10 aircraft transited the traffic pattern airspace flying South-to-North. The A-10's were approximately where one would be if on close downwind for Runway 19 at GEZ; at or below 1;000 AGL (I had already reduced power and descended a couple hundred feet when I saw the two-ship as they crossed my nose; slightly above the horizon).The A-10s did not communicate via CTAF. The lead ship maneuvered to the east somewhat (apparently spotting me at the same time I spotted him); and his wingman followed. This is the second time in the past thirty days that this situation has occurred at GEZ to my knowledge. Low-level military aircraft presumably are transiting this area after training at Atterbury Range. There is not a low-level training route that transits GEZ airspace. However; aircraft departing Atterbury using GPS direct to Fort Wayne could be led to overfly GEZ. This practice is not safe for ordinary traffic. Military authorities should brief mission pilots to not overfly civil airfields at pattern altitudes; charted low-level routes should be used.
An AA5 pilot suffered a close encounter with a flight of two A-10s in the pattern at GEZ.