Amateur-built ZIPPY SPORT accident near Bolivar, Missouri, May 19, 1986
On May 19, 1986 at about 10:29 pm local time, a amateur-built ZIPPY SPORT, registered N118CC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bolivar, Missouri (Bolivar airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- May 19, 1986 · about 10:29 pm local time
- Place
- Bolivar, Missouri · Bolivar · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZIPPY SPORT ZIPPY SPOR
- Registration
- N118CC · registry record · serial 038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PERFORMING A HIGH SPEED TAXI RUN ON A TURF RWY THE PLT STATED THE ACFT HIT A BUMP IN THE RWY WHERE A DRAINAGE PIPE RUNS BENEATH THE SURFACE AND INADVERTENTLY BECAME AIRBORNE. THE PLT DID NOT REDUCE THROTTLE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND THE ACFT STALLED AFTER THE PLT MADE A TURN TO THE EAST. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND SHORT OF GROUP OF TREES. THE ACFT WAS A RECENTLY CONTRUCTED EXPERIMENTAL AND HAD NOT BEEN CERTIFICATED FOR FLT. THE PLT STATED HE COULD NOT REMEMBER IF HE HAD CLOSED THE THROTTLE OR IF THE ENG FAILED JUST PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. EXAM OF THE ENG DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCY. THE NEW WOODEN PROPELLER WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED DURING THE IMPACT. THE PURPOSE OF THE TAXI TESTS WAS TO DETERMINE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ACFT WITH VARIOUS PROPELLERS INSTALLED ON THE ACFT.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen GLOBAL 7892 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,485 ft by 255 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 4,700 ft; scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from SGF, 18 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.