Amateur-built SKYBOLT accident near St. Augustine, Florida, July 5, 1984
On July 5, 1984 at about 8:25 pm local time, a amateur-built SKYBOLT, registered N9722A, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Augustine, Florida (St. Augustine airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1984 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- St. Augustine, Florida · St. Augustine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYBOLT
- Registration
- N9722A · no longer on the register · serial 35
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A TURN AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT REPORTED THE CONTROL STICK SUDDENLY 'SNAPPED BACK' TO THE FULL NOSE UP POSITION. THE ACFT WAS AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL WHEN IT STALLED. THE PILOT WHO WAS IN THE BACK SEAT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BEFORE GROUND IMPACT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PLT REPORTED THAT HIS PASSENGER WAS IN A 'HIGHLY EXCITED STATE' BEFORE TAKEOFF ANDWANTED TO TAKEOFF EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER WAS NOT GOOD ALONG THEIR ROUTE OF FLT. THE PLT ALSO SAID THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT DISAPPEARED FROM HIS VIEW AS THE ACFT REACHED 300 FT. AFTER THE CONTROL STICK EPISODE THE PASSENGERS HEAD REAPPEARED. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS OF THE CONTROLS OR ENGINE. THREE DRUGS WERE FOUNDIN THE BAGGAGE OF THE PASSENGER; DEXEDRINE 5MG, TRANSDERM-SCOP 4'S, AND COMPAZINE 5 MG. THESE WERE SELF PERSCRIBED BY THE DOCTOR PASSENGER FOR AIR SICKNESS BUT HAD SIDE EFFECTS OF OVER STIMULATION, RESTLESSNESS, DIZZINESS, JITTERINESS AND INSOMNIA.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,801 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 2,973 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 246 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 6, 1984; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: VDI Vidalia GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 700 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.