# NTSB FTW94LA283: Walton Skybolt, N113BW, Collinsville, OK, August 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1994, 11:25 local (16:25 UTC) - Place: Collinsville, OK - Coordinates: 36.369186, -95.849067 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3692&lon=-95.8491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19149 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19149/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA283 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Abrupt maneuver, takeoff - initial climb - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE ROTATED AT THE MIDPOINT OF A 2,400 FOOT RUNWAY AND ACCELERATED WHILE ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A RAPID PULL UP TO VERTICAL. FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET TO 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A LEFT TURN AND THE BANK INCREASED TO EXCEED 90 DEGREES. THE AIRPLANE THEN PITCHED DOWN FROM 30 DEGREES TO NEAR VERTICAL WITH LEFT WING LOW. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS AT FULL POWER. A POST IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE. THERE WERE NO AIRFRAME DISCREPANCIES NOTED. CONTROL RODS AND A RUDDER CABLE WERE FOUND SEPARATED AND EXAMINATION BY THE NTSB METALLURGIST REVEALED THE CONTROL RODS EXHIBITED FRACTURE FEATURES AND ASSOCIATED DEFORMATION CONSISTENT WITH OVERSTRESS SEPARATIONS. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 1994, at 1125 central daylight time, a homebuilt Walton Skybolt, N113BW, was destroyed following a loss of control during takeoff near Collinsville, Oklahoma. The airline transport rated pilot and one passenger received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned cross country flight. Witnesses reported the flight was planned from Sand Ridge Airport, Collinsville, Oklahoma, to Joplin, Missouri. A preflight and runup was conducted by the pilot. The airplane rotated from the midpoint of the south runway and accelerated as the airplane flew about 20 feet above the ground. As the airplane approached the departure end of the runway, they observed the airplane in a "rapid pullup" to "vertical." Subsequently from an altitude of 200 feet to 300 feet a left turn was initiated and the bank increased to exceed 90 degrees. One witness observed the "nose was pitched down approximately 30 degrees below the horizon, left wing low, engine full power, airplane pointed north." Another witness reported the airplane continued to "pitch down to near vertical and rotate left." Witnesses stated that the engine was developing power until the impact and there were no inflight airframe discrepancies observed. The post crash fire erupted at impact. A witness stated that on all previous takeoffs he observed the airplane climb to about 200 feet AGL. The pilot would then initiate a left climbing turn, with a 45 degree bank and nose high attitude, to crosswind. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane, which came to rest at the southeast corner of the field approximately 200 feet east of the runway. He observed ground scars that approximated those of the left wing leading edge. Portions of the airplane were located in a ground scar which exhibited circular striations. Control rods and a rudder cable were found separated and these components were forwarded to the NTSB for metallurgical examination. The airplane battery was an electrical source in the vicinity of the rudder cable. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed the autopsy. Toxicological results were negative. Metallurgical examination (report enclosed) revealed the control rods exhibited fracture features and associated deformation consistent with overstress separations. The mating ends of the cable separation contained what appeared to be melted and resolidified material, typical of an arc strike. The airplane was released to the estate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N113BW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N113BW-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N WGW-SB1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WALTON SKYBOLT - Registry model: [Walton William G SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/walton-william-g-skybolt) (registry code 05655LY) (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: WGW-SB1 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Walton, William G. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1994 - Destination: JLN, JOPLIN, MO - Airport: Sand Ridge, runway 18, 2,400 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 17,528 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19940827023609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940827023609A), Aug 27, 1994: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Collinsville, OK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Rotated to vertical on climbout. Pitched down. Vertical impact. Evidence battery cables short on control rods. 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.