# NTSB DEN85FTE09: Conover'S Steen Skybolt, N200FC, Strasburg, CO, September 5, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: September 5, 1985, 11:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Strasburg, CO
- Coordinates: 39.730213, -104.299507 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7302&lon=-104.2995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16567
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FTE09
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16567/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FTE09

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - acft/equip inadequate,visual restriction, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED DURING LANDING BY A WITNESS WHO SAID THAT THE ACFT BOUNCED ONCE BEFORE NOSING OVER TO AN INVERTED POSITION ON THE RT SIDE OF THE RWY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RT LANDING GEAR WAS WRAPPED TIGHT WITH WEEDS THAT BORDERED THE SIDE. THESE WEEDS WERE 3 TO 4 FT HIGH. THE PLT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RWY BUT DUE TO RESTRICTED FOWARD VISIBILITY DURING THE FLARE HE MUST HAVE DRIFTED TO THE RT ENOUGH TO CONTACT THE WEEDS WITH THE LANDING GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N200FC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N200FC), registered now, S/N 1, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CONOVER'S STEEN SKYBOLT (STEEN SKYB)
- Registry model: [Conover Forest R CONOVER SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/conover-forest-r-conover-skybolt) (registry code 05655AJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Airframe hours: 100
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Forrest Conover
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1985, 5 hours before
- Airport: 59CO, Commanche Livestock, runway 15, 2,400 × 80 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 17,500 total, 100 in this make and model, 17,500 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 39 °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 19850905043369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850905043369A), Sep 5, 1985: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Strasburg, CO, Substantial damage. Right gear leg became entangled in tall weeds beside runway on touchdown. Aircraft flipped over after a bounce.

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.