Skytek SKYSEEKER MK II accident near Chapman, Maine, October 13, 1990
On October 13, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Skytek SKYSEEKER MK II, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Chapman, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IN-FLIGHT FAILURE OF THE OUTBOARD SECTION OF THE WING, AND THE LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. DUE TO THE UNAUTHORIZED STRUCTURAL MODIFICATION BY THE PILOT/OWNER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chapman, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Skytek SKYSEEKER MK II SKYSEEKER
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial TC 001324
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED 'BOBBING UP AND DOWN' AS THE PILOT PERFORMED MANEUVERS DURING THE LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY HEARD A BANG AND SAW THE OUTBOARD SECTION OF THE RIGHT WING FOLD UP BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND. THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT/AIRCRAFT OWNER HAD PERFORMED AN UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATION TO THE WING STRUCTURE OF THE TWO-SEATER ULTRA-LIGHT AIRCRAFT. THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY HAD ADVISED AGAINST THE MODIFICATION AS IT WAS CONSIDERED UNSAFE AND WOULD WEAKEN THE STRUCTURE.
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: student
- Flight time: 500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 500 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 13, 1990; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Bombardier ROTEX MODEL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from CAR, 18 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.