# NTSB ATL85FLT01: Mitchell Ronald A Skybolt, N8506C, Athens, TN, October 7, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: October 7, 1984, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Athens, TN
- Coordinates: 35.449798, -84.599365 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4498&lon=-84.5994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6654
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FLT01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6654/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FLT01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - ostentatious display, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND INVERTED WITH THE RT WING AND NOSE HITTING FIRST. WITNESSES SAID THAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE DOING AEROBATICS AND ENTERED A FLAT INVERTED SPIN. THE PLT/OWNER IN THE BACK SEAT HELD AN ATP CERTIFICATEAND REPORTEDLY HAD OVER 1000 HRS SINGLE ENG FLT TIME. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT WAS A PVT PLT WITH ABOUT 300 HRS SINGLE ENG FLT TIME WITH NO SOLO TIME IN THIS MAKE OF ACFT. IT IS UNKNOWN WHO WAS FLYING THE DUAL CONTROL ACFT BUT THE REAR SEAT PLTS LEFT ARM WAS FRACTURED WHILE THE FRONT SEAT PLT HAD NO BROKEN BONES IN THE HANDS OR FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8506C (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MITCHELL RONALD A SKYBOLT
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 116
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charlie Ray Wilson &R. Axley
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 1984, 769 hours before
- Departed: MMI, ATHENS, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 1,700 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841007054389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841007054389A), Oct 7, 1984: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Athens, TN, Destroyed. Entered a flat spin at a low altitude while performing acrobatics.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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