Amateur-built SKYBOLT accident near Midlothian, Texas, June 28, 2014
On June 28, 2014 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 2010 amateur-built SKYBOLT, registered N619PD, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Midlothian, Texas (Mid-Way Regional Airport). 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 airplane control while performing an aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in an inverted spin and subsequent collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2014 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Midlothian, Texas · Mid-Way Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYBOLT, built 2010
- Registration
- N619PD · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to an aerobatic judge who was critiquing the flight, the pilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers within the designated aerobatic box for the airport. The pilot had completed the planned maneuvers then asked the judge if he would watch him perform another maneuver—a "shoulder roll." After leveling off about 2,000 feet above ground level, the pilot performed and completed the maneuver; subsequently the airplane entered a knife-edge attitude followed by a clockwise inverted spin. Multiple witnesses observed the airplane in a flat spin and one witness estimated the airplane made 3 to 4 revolutions in the spin before it hit the ground. The airplane came to rest inverted west of the runway. All components were located at the impact site. An examination of the airframe, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies. The pilot/owner had previously completed various modifications to the airplane; investigators were not able to determine if the changes made to the airplane would have affected the airplane's ability to recover from a spin or inverted spin.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (aerobatics)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 918 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 258.3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 1, 2014; 28 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B4A (piston); 188 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KJWY Midlothian TX at 9:00 pm
- Destination: KJWY Midlothian TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from KJWY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.