Amateur-built SKYBOLT accident near Cranford, New Jersey, August 4, 1986
On August 4, 1986 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SKYBOLT, registered N2TW, was destroyed in an accident near Cranford, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1986 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cranford, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYBOLT
- Registration
- N2TW · registry record · serial 73
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE POP, SPUTTER AND THEN GO SILENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO CONTINUALLY LOSE ALTITUDE, THEN VISUAL CONTACT WAS LOST DUE TO THE TREE LINE. POST-ACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED OR AVAILABLE.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. 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 NYC86FHM04.