Taylor Skybolt accident near Sharpsburg, Georgia, May 14, 2006
On May 14, 2006 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Taylor Skybolt, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N78BJ, was destroyed in an accident near Sharpsburg, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control while conducting aerobatic flight. Factors in the accident were the pilot's ostentatious display, and lack of recent and total experience in type of operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2006 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sharpsburg, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylor Skybolt, amateur-built
- Registration
- N78BJ · registry record · serial 100JT
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses stated that they observed the airplane make a high speed pass by and descend down to 200 to 300 feet. When the airplane reached the vicinity of a tree line heading east bound, the airplane was observed to begin a pull up maneuver followed by a snap roll to the right. The airplane went inverted, disappeared from view behind the tree line and a subsequent impact noise was heard. One witnesses stated that when the airplane completed the roll, it leveled out at a high rate of speed, and went inverted as if it was attempting another roll. The witness described the turns as controlled and similar to an air show maneuver. Examination of the crash site revealed no anomalies with the engine assembly and accessories, airframe, or flight controls. review of the pilot's logbook revealed he had recorded one dual training flight on September 24, 2004 for .8 hours, and 7 solo aerobatic flights for a total of 8.5 hours. The pilot's last recorded aerobatic flight was on January 28, 2006.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 260 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2005; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A160 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCCO Newnan GA
- Destination: KCCO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from KATL, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.