Amateur-built SKYBOLT accident near Gadsden, Alabama, April 14, 1992
On April 14, 1992 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SKYBOLT, registered N12TJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gadsden, Alabama (Gadsden Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE PLANNED FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 1992 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gadsden, Alabama · Gadsden Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYBOLT
- Registration
- N12TJ · no longer on the register · serial 2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 18 WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. HE ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO RUNWAY 24, BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. HE FORCE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A PASTURE ABOUT 300 YARDS FROM THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TWO FENCES, TWO DITCHES, AND CROSSED A ROAD BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD EXHAUSTED HIS AVAILABLE FUEL SUPPLY, AND THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES WERE GIVING FALSE READINGS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 772 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 655 as pilot in command; 173 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, February 3, 1992; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,803 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:36 pm from GAD, 1 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.