Skygear Skygear accident near Chino, California, May 25, 2007
On May 25, 2007 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Skygear Skygear, registered N51291, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino airport). It was a flight test 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 pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed that resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2007 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Skygear Skygear
- Registration
- N51291 · no longer on the register · serial SKG-9003010606
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The recently constructed amateur-built experimental airplane was in its initial flight test phase and was in the traffic pattern at the airport. Witnesses said it stalled and collided with terrain in a nose down attitude. The airplane had accumulated approximately 8 hours total flight time. An individual who was assisting the pilot with the certification of the airplane reported that it was about 100 pounds heavier than the original design specified due to intentional modifications that were made during construction. Most of the additional weight was located in the tail section. On the day of the accident, the pilot had loaded into the front seat numerous heavy items in an attempt to move the CG forward. The items included a metal workbench vise, a metal toolbox, and a large box of construction staples. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no abnormalities, which would have precluded normal operation. The person assisting with certification stated that the original concept airframe was built in Korea and consisted of a metal frame covered with cloth. The pilot had the accident airplane built in China but with the metal frame covered in hand laid fiberglass.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 8:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26R, 4,858 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from CNO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.