Amateur-built SKYBOLT accident near Atchison, Kansas, August 25, 1983
On August 25, 1983 at about 5:20 pm local time, a amateur-built SKYBOLT, registered N798G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atchison, Kansas (Amelia Earhart airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 25, 1983 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Atchison, Kansas · Amelia Earhart · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYBOLT
- Registration
- N798G · no longer on the register · serial 01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACRT CRASHED 200 FT SHORT OF THE RWY WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND ON A SHORT FINAL APPROACH. THE ACFT CAME TO REST 100 FT BELOW THE RWY LEVEL. THE LANDING GEAR WAS BROKEN BACKWARD. THE NOSE OF THE ACRT WAS AGAINST A DIRT BANK. THERE WAS LESS THAN 1 INCH OF FUEL IN ONE CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK. ALL FUEL LINES WERE INTACT BUT THE FIREWALL FUEL FILTER WAS BROKEN AND COULD HAVE LEAKED. DURING TESTING IT WAS CAPABLE OF SYPHONING THE FUEL DOWN TO NE PINT REMAINING IN THE TANK WHEN THE SOIL UNDER THE POSITION OF THE FILTER WAS DUG INTO A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WAS EVIDENT. THE PILOT SAID THIS ACRT HAD A VAPOR LOCK PROBLEM BEFORE AND A NEW FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED. THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS OFF AT THE ACCIDENT SITE BUT THE THROTTLE WAS FULL FOWARD AND THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS FULL RICH. THE PILOT HAD REDUCED POWER ON THE DOWWIND LEG AND REAPPLIED IT ON FINAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH THE RWY.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 3,040 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1983; 8 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 G1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K27 Ft. Madison IA at 3:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.