Amateur-built STEEN SKYBOLT accident near Windsor, North Carolina, May 11, 2013
On May 11, 2013 at about 7:45 pm local time, a amateur-built STEEN SKYBOLT, registered N858RS, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Windsor, North Carolina (Todd'S 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 decision to initiate an aerobatic maneuver with insufficient altitude to recover before ground impact.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2013 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Windsor, North Carolina · Todd'S Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STEEN SKYBOLT
- Registration
- N858RS · registry record · serial 100RS
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the experimental homebuilt aerobatic biplane reported that he decided to do some "maneuvers." After takeoff, he did one flyby in an easterly direction along the runway and then did a second one. At the end of the second flyby, he pulled up to between 300 and 500 feet and performed a "wingover" maneuver. According to the pilot, at the bottom of the wingover, he noticed that the engine did not respond when he advanced the throttle and that the rpm was decreasing through 2,000. The airplane then descended into a field and impacted terrain. According to federal regulations, no person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface. Examination of the accident site revealed two 40-foot-long impressions that matched the geometry of the main landing gear and ended at the point where the airplane made initial ground contact with its left wing. The airplane then continued traveling forward for another 200 feet after initial ground contact before dissipating its energy and coming to rest. The impact evidence indicates that the airplane was well above its stall speed at impact. Further, examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and the crush and compression damage to the lower left wing was consistent with the airplane incurring a high-G impact. Additionally, the G-meter indicated 5 1/2 Gs positive and 3 1/2 Gs negative.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Abrupt maneuver during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (aerobatics)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,275 hours in all; 178 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 16,256 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 28, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 924 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 17, 2012; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Windsor NC at 7:45 pm
- Destination: Louisburg NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,160 ft by 78 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from EDE, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
18 documents, released by the NTSB on July 17, 2013. 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.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N858RS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.