Amateur-built Sky Ranger II accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina, October 16, 2008
On October 16, 2008 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Sky Ranger II, registered N75684, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina. 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 non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and a subsequent impact with the ground. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of training and his impairment due to recent use of marijuana.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2008 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Hill, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Sky Ranger II
- Registration
- N75684 · no longer on the register · serial SKR0211263
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While teaching himself to fly, the non-certificated pilot stalled the airplane, which then impacted the ground in a 60-degree, nose-down attitude. Postcrash examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies. Toxicological testing revealed that the pilot was likely under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident.
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 unknown defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Total instruct/training recvd › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Illicit drug › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 81 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,212 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: None Rock Hill SC
- Destination: Rock Hill SC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from UZA, 8 miles away
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.