Amateur-built SKYBOLT GT-2 accident near Saint John, Washington, April 12, 1988
On April 12, 1988, a amateur-built SKYBOLT GT-2, registered N76JJ, was destroyed in an accident near Saint John, Washington (Larmie Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- April 12, 1988
- Place
- Saint John, Washington · Larmie Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYBOLT GT-2 SKYBOLT GT
- Registration
- N76JJ · no longer on the register · serial 1-1-75
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TKOF WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT DID A MANEUVER AT 50-60 FT AGL THAT INVOLVED A STEEP (90 DEGREE) BANKED TURN TO A SNAP ROLL. THE BIWING ACFT WAS CAPABLE OF AEROBATIC FLT AND THE PLT HAD DISCUSSED AEROBATIC ROLL MANEUVERS ON TKOF WITH THE ACFT CO-OWNER. THE CO-OWNER SAID THE ACFT WAS 'EASY TO SNAP ROLL.' HE THOUGHT THE PLT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TURNING TO AVOID A HOUSE, THEN WAS UNPREPARED TO RECOVER WHEN THE ACFT ROLLED. RECOVERY FROM THE MANEUVER WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE ACFT STRUCK THE GND RIGHT WING FIRST, CARTWHEELED, AND BURNED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT, CONTROL MALFUNCTION, OR OBSTRUCTED FLT CONTROLS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 874 hours in all; 136 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 831 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 412 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 29, 1987; 104 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.