Amateur-built STEEN SKYBOLT accident near Elk Rapids, Michigan, June 19, 1989
On June 19, 1989 at about 10:10 pm local time, a amateur-built STEEN SKYBOLT, registered N199BP, was destroyed in an accident near Elk Rapids, Michigan (Yuba airport). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE WERE: INADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1989 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Elk Rapids, Michigan · Yuba · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STEEN SKYBOLT STEEN SKYB
- Registration
- N199BP · no longer on the register · serial 23106
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE PILOT MAKE A LOW PASS (300 FT AGL) OVER THE RUNWAY DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A ROLL TO THE LEFT. WHEN THE AIRPLANE REACHED THE INVERTED POSITION, IT PITCHED DOWNWARD AND DESCENDED TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR FLIGHT TIME IN THE AIRPLANE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,780 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 9,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 195 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1989; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from TVC, 8 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.