Amateur-built Skybolt accident near Lexington, Texas, July 14, 2018
On July 14, 2018 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1978 amateur-built Skybolt, registered N22GL, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Lexington, Texas (Cotton Patch 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 fatigue failure of the main landing gear (MLG) truss, which resulted in the MLG spreading apart.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2018 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lexington, Texas · Cotton Patch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Skybolt, built 1978
- Registration
- N22GL · registry record · serial GL-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing and while taxiing to the hangar, the bottom of the airplane's fuselage began to drag on the ground. Realizing that something was wrong, the pilot stopped the airplane and turned the engine magneto switch to off. Postaccident examination revealed that a fatigue failure of the main landing gear (MLG) truss had occurred, which allowed the MLG to spread apart.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during taxi (from runway) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during taxi (from runway)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 818 hours in all; 429 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 818 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 22, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,511 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 25, 2018; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 3,412 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T74 Taylor TX at 6:35 pm
- Destination: TA75 Lexington TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from GYB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 11, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Email from Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Report Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.