Amateur-built SKYBOLT accident near Wadsworth, Ohio, June 25, 1987
On June 25, 1987, a amateur-built SKYBOLT, registered N86173, was destroyed in an accident near Wadsworth, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1987
- Place
- Wadsworth, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYBOLT
- Registration
- N86173 · no longer on the register · serial 4745
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING AEROBATICS. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT LINKAGE CONTROL RODS BETWEEN THE PILOT'S STICK AND THE PITCH ELEVATOR WAS BROKEN. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A COMBINATION OF INADEQUATELY SPECIFIED STRUCTURAL DESIGN AND IMPROPER FABRICATION. HIGH STRESS LEVELS RESULTED IN FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE REAR STICK CROSS HOLE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 837 hours in all; 625 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 710 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1987; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1G5 Medina
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from CLE, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.