# NTSB ERA23LA288: Steen Skybolt, N32WM, Aliceville, AL, July 4, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 4, 2023, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Aliceville, AL - Coordinates: 33.107777, -88.189695 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1078&lon=-88.1897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192528 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192528/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192528 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA288 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined as the wreckage was not recovered and could not be examined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Meredith Willie E STEEN SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056555T), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Meredith Willie E STEEN SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=056555T), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Meredith Willie E STEEN SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056555T), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Meredith Willie E STEEN SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056555T), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built airplane had not been operated for several years before the pilot purchased it and attempted to return it to a flight-ready condition. The pilot completed two test flights and then completed a circuit in the airport traffic pattern during the third flight. After approaching the runway and flying down its length to assess the airplane’s handling characteristics in ground effect, he attempted to add power with about 500 feet of runway remaining. At that point he realized that he was unable to move the carburetor heat control in order to deactivate it, and lacking sufficient runway to land, he decided to fly the airplane around the traffic pattern about 200 ft above ground level. While maneuvering back to the runway, the engine began to lose power and the airplane’s sink rate increased. The pilot leaned the mixture and changed fuel tanks; however, he could not restore engine power. He then performed a forced landing to a marshy area, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The wreckage was not recovered from the accident site and could not be examined, therefore a reason for the partial loss of engine power that the pilot reported could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32WM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32WM), registered now, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEEN SKYBOLT - Registry model: [Meredith Willie E STEEN SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/meredith-willie-e-steen-skybolt) (registry code 056555T) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Year built: 1987 - Airframe hours: 148 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 14, 2022, 24 hours before - Airport: AIV, George Downer, runway 06, 5,001 × 80 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2022; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 898.9 total, 1.3 in this make and model, 776.9 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: GTR, 28 nm away - METAR: KGTR 041356Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/23 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP186 T02670228 ## 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 20230704014589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230704014589A), Jul 4, 2023: Meredith Willie E STEEN SKYBOLT, Aliceville, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot was practicing touch and go's on runway 06, applied carb heat to land, landing long he executed a go-around but was unable to push the carb heat back in.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192528. 25.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 24.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17592112&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA288%206120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - pilot interview summary (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17592667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA288%20MOR%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - pilot follow-up interview (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17673042&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA288%20MOR%20Pilot%20II-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record recovery correspondence (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17608658&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA288%20MOR%20Wreckage%20Recovery%20Correspondence-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 403 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17592174&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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.