Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 650; Flight Crew Type 375
Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
Just before sunset; my wife and I encountered either a small manned-aircraft or a large unmanned aircraft performing aerobatic maneuvers near BGF. We were flying [a] direct GPS route. We were no more than 7 NM from the airport and about 2;200 FT MSL; when I spotted an aircraft at my altitude; moving very fast; and almost parallel to my line-of-flight. Suddenly; the aircraft pulled up and performed what appeared to be a loop and returned to an altitude slightly above mine. I diverted northeast; making a radio call on 122.8 to alert the pilot of our proximity. No reply. Even though I was now flying a northeasterly diversionary course; the aircraft again appeared in my field of view; slightly (no more than 200 FT I would estimate) above me and appeared to cross my line of flight (I have a high winged aircraft; so I lost the view). My PCAS (Personal Collision Avoidance System) did not show any traffic; so this aircraft either had no transponder or it was not turned on. The severity of the maneuvers we observed made me and my wife think this must be an unmanned aircraft. I proceeded to BGF; crossed mid-field at pattern altitude; and did a 180- degree turn east of the field. I was planning to enter a left downwind for Runway 36 and then I saw the aircraft again in downwind airspace (I did not see any aerobatic maneuvers here). At this point in time; I felt very apprehensive about this situation; and decided to go back to my home airport without landing at BGF. The time of this incident was dusk; I saw no identifying marks on the aircraft. Nor; can I say for sure what color it was. However; I am certain it was a low-wing design; had a single white strobe; and I am 90 percent sure there were red and green wing marker lights. There was no radio traffic in the [pattern at] Winchester except for my routine VFR traffic announcements and my extra calls to the maneuvering aircraft.
The reporter stated that after doing some discovery; he is fairly certain that the other aircraft was in fact an RV-3. An aircraft of that type had been seen in that area previously and the extreme maneuvers performed would fit an RV-3 profile. The purpose of the reporter's flight was an evening outing and short trip to this airport for less expensive self-serve fuel but the possibility of encountering this aircraft in the pattern made him think that the danger was not worth the effort. The reporter does not believe the other pilot was acting purposefully against his aircraft; more likely that pilot was not paying attention.
A C182 pilot reported taking evasive action to an apparent RV-3 conducting aerobatic maneuvers near BGF and so left the area abandoning a planned landing at that airport.