# NTSB FTW83FA194: Logan Steen Skybolt, N5NL, Greenville, TX, April 18, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1983, 16:01 local (22:01 UTC)
- Place: Greenville, TX
- Coordinates: 33.190582, -96.110649 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1906&lon=-96.1106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20719
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA194
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20719/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA194

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - aerobatics - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - maneuver - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER THE PLT ATTEMPTED AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AT LOW ALT. WITNESSES SAID THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT MAKE A LOW PASS OVER A HOUSE JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THEN THE ACFT STARTED AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER FROM 200 FT AGL.A CORPORATE PLT WITNESS SAID THE ACFT NOSE WENT UP TO ABOUT A 45 DEGREE CLIMB AND THE ACFT SNAP ROLLED. INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE ROLL RIGHT SIDE UP THE ROLL CONTINUED TO THE INVERTED POSITION AND THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN. THE ACFT APPEAREDTO BE RECOVERING WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TREES IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THE RECOVERY WAS ATTEMPTED THE SAME AS COMING OUT OF A LOOP OR SPLIT'S' MANEUVER. THE TREES THAT WERE HIT WERE ABOUT 20 FT TALL AND THE ACFT WAS IN ABOUT A 20 DEGREE NOSEDOWN ATTITUDE AT IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5NL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5NL-2013-03-18), registration cancelled 2013-03-18, S/N NLA1, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOGAN STEEN SKYBOLT (STEEN SKYB)
- Registry model: [Logan STEEN SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/logan-steen-skybolt) (registry code 0563302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: NLA1
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-11B reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harry W. Hall
- Airport: GVT, Majors

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAL

## 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 19830418013829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830418013829A), Apr 18, 1983: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Greenville, TX, Destroyed. Pilot was performing aerobatics over friends house and collided with trees attempting recovery from maneuver.

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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