Amateur-built SKY BOLT accident near Mehoopany, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1992
On June 2, 1992 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SKY BOLT, registered N261P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mehoopany, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLED AND SPUN THE AIRPLANE AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN ENGINE VIBRATION CAUSED BY A BROKEN NUMBER 3 EXHAUST VALVE. THE EXHAUST VALVE CAUSED EXTENSIVE INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1992 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mehoopany, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKY BOLT
- Registration
- N261P · no longer on the register · serial 0061PA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT CRUISE ALTITUDE THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE. DURING THE FORCE LANDING THE PILOT FELT THAT THE SPEED OF THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO FAST SO ELECTED TO GO AROUND AND ATTEMPT ANOTHER APPROACH. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE AWAY FROM THE INTENDED LANDING SITE, AND WHILE IN THE TURN THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SPUN INTO THE GROUND. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 3 EXHAUST VALVE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND EXTENSIVE INTERNAL DAMAGE WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE.
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: 159 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 156 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,674 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1992; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 76N Tunkhannock PA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: 76N
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.