# NTSB CEN26LA075: Steen Skybolt, N453DB, Guthrie, OK, December 31, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 31, 2025, 17:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Guthrie, OK
- Coordinates: 35.851669, -97.416395 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8517&lon=-97.4164&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 14, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202248
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202248/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202248
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA075

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a quartering left crosswind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Don A Baker BAKER-SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056303A), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Don A Baker BAKER-SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056303A), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Don A Baker BAKER-SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056303A), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Don A Baker BAKER-SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=056303A), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Don A Baker BAKER-SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056303A), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Don A Baker BAKER-SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056303A), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane had a shimmy from the tailwheel for about 50 to 100 ft. During the landing, the airplane ground looped to the right, exited the runway, and the lower left wing struck the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the lower left wing. A review of a surveillance video showed the airplane touchdown and immediately ground loop with no landing roll observed. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 16 with wind from 130° at 7 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N453DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N453DB), registered now, S/N 01, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STEEN SKYBOLT
- Registry model: [Don A Baker BAKER-SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/don-a-baker-baker-skybolt) (registry code 056303A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-B1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-b1a5) (registry code 42332, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 01
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 358
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: GOK, Guthrie Edmond Regional, runway 16, 5,001 × 75 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review March 29, 2025; seat: rear; flight hours: 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KGOK
- METAR: KGOK 312253Z AUTO 13007KT 10SM CLR 17/M04 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP185 T01671039 PWINO $=

## 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 20251231019919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251231019919A), Dec 31, 2025: Don A Baker BAKER-SKYBOLT, Guthrie, OK, Substantial damage. Upon landing at gok runway 16 on December 31, 2025, at approximately 1633 local time, the pilot stated that they felt a shaking or shimmy coming from the aft…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202248. 11.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20146544&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement mor (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20251116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20148180&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Airport surveillance video (item 4, MOV, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20147975&FileExtension=mov&FileName=IMG_0101-Rel.mov

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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