# NTSB BFO95LA062: Berg Steen Skybolt, N3753B, Bath, NY, June 11, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 1995, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Bath, NY - Coordinates: 42.329086, -77.309539 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3291&lon=-77.3095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9054 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9054/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA062 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance to avoid trees while performing aerobatic maneuvers. Related factors are the low altitude at which the maneuver was initiated and the delayed recovery/pull-up. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - low altitude flight/maneuver - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - pull-up - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis WITNESSES REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN UNDETERMINED ALTITUDE, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN ACROBATIC MANEUVER. REVIEW OF A VIDEO TAPE TAKEN OF THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE REVEALED THE AIRPLANE ROLLED LEFT AND ENTERED INTO A SPIN. THE AIRPLANE COMPLETED FOUR SPINS BEFORE RECOVERY WAS INITIATED. THE AIRPLANE STOPPED ROTATING JUST PRIOR TO IMPACTING TREES. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. THE PILOT'S LOG BOOK WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE PILOT RECEIVED A FAA THIRD CLASS MEDICAL ON AUGUST 24, 1988, AT WHICH TIME HE REPORTED 200 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1995, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Berg Steen Skybolt, N3753B, collided with terrain during an acrobatic maneuver after takeoff from the Jolamtra Airport in Bath, New York. The pilot was fatally injured. The homebuilt airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Bath, New York, approximately 1255. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector, at the time of the accident, there was a model airshow taking place. Witnesses reported that the pilot landed the airplane, signed autographs, and talked with spectators. The witnesses stated that the pilot did a preflight prior to departure. Review of a video tape taken by a spectator revealed that shortly after takeoff the airplane did a vertical aileron roll and climbed to an unknown altitude. The airplane then rolled left and entered into a spin. The airplane completed four spins before recovery was initiated. Rotation was stopped just prior to the airplane impacting trees. View of the airplane was lost as it entered the trees. No objects were seen departing the airplane during any of the maneuvers. Engine noise was audible until impact. Postaccident examination of the accident site and airplane revealed the airplane impacted trees and descended to the ground. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies. The pilot last received a FAA Third Class Medical Certificate on August 24, 1988. On the application for the certificate, the pilot reported he had accumulated 200 flight hours. The pilot's log book was not recovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3753B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3753B-2014-11-26), registration cancelled 2014-11-26, S/N GAB-1, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BERG STEEN SKYBOLT (STEEN SKYB) - Registry model: [Berg Gregory A STEEN SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/berg-gregory-a-steen-skybolt) (registry code 05655AG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: GAB-1 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stuart Saikkonen - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 15 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ELM, 25 nm away ## 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 19950611018099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950611018099A), Jun 11, 1995: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Bath, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Attempted acrobatic maneuver on climbout. Rolled entered spin. Recovered just before hitting trees after 3 turns. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.