Cessna's prototype SkyCatcher Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) crashed Thursday near Douglass, Kan., after it went into a spin and the engineering test pilot parachuted to safety.

The prototype, N162XP, was one of three flight articles Cessna test pilots have been evaluating. According to the initial FAA report on the accident, during a test flight the aircraft "entered an unrecoverable spin, pilot bailed out and landing safety" (sic). A Cessna spokesman said the aircraft had logged about 150 hours of total flight time before Thursday's flight. He declined to provide any additional details about the mishap, noting that FAA is investigating the cause of the crash.

The spokesman said Cessna Chairman Jack Pelton sent a message to employees following the accident, saying it was too early to determine what effect the crash might have on the SkyCatcher's development program schedule. But he also said the accident will not interfere with the program's continuation.

Pelton has been an enthusiastic supporter of the SkyCatcher program, which is designed to broaden interest in learning to fly by providing a simple-to-operate, relatively inexpensive airplane. The aircraft was introduced at the 2007 Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture at an initial price of $109,500, an offer that resulted in dealer and retail orders for more than 600 of the LSAs in the first few days.

Under the LSA category, which FAA adopted several years ago, the SkyCatcher will not be certificated by FAA, but it will be required to meet standards established by ASTM. The SkyCatcher will be limited to a maximum gross takeoff weight of 1,320 pounds, a service ceiling of 15,500 feet, a useful load of 490 pounds and a useable fuel load of 24 gallons.

Powered by a 100-horsepower Continental engine, the two-place SkyCatcher will be equipped with a Garmin G300 Electronic Flight Instrument System. Cessna built the prototype and two production aircraft for flight test purposes. It signed an agreement late in 2007 with China's Shenyang Aircraft Corp., under which the Chinese firm will be the exclusive manufacturer of the high-wing aircraft.

Photo of SkyCatcher on first flight: Cessna