Amateur-built SKYBOLT accident near Carson City, Nevada, May 4, 2015
On May 4, 2015 at about 4:35 pm local time, a 1986 amateur-built SKYBOLT, registered N88FX, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Carson City, Nevada (Carson City 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2015 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Carson City, Nevada · Carson City Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYBOLT NO SERIES, built 1986
- Registration
- N88FX · registry record · serial DEW3923883
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landing the tailwheel-equipped biplane reported he was unable to correct for winds after touchdown and decided to abort the landing. During takeoff the biplane's left lower wing struck a taxiway sign. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Safety Inspector performed a subsequent examination of the biplane, and documented and photographed substantial damage to the bottom left wing spar. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 443.7 hours in all; 166.6 in this make and model; 9.3 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 387.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 12, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 548 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 1, 2015; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 548 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCXP Carson City NV at 3:30 pm
- Destination: KCXP Carson City NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 6,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KCXP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA15CA060.