# NTSB GAA19CA434: SKYBolt Smith Special Skybol, N748JS, Stafford, VA, June 30, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 30, 2019, 08:49 local (12:49 UTC) - Place: Stafford, VA - Coordinates: 38.404998, -77.461944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4050&lon=-77.4619&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99803 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA434 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99803/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99803 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA434 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading during an aborted go-around, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Donald Joe JR SMITH SPECIAL SKYBOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=056358G), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Donald Joe JR SMITH SPECIAL SKYBOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056358G), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Smith Donald Joe JR SMITH SPECIAL SKYBOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056358G), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Smith Donald Joe JR SMITH SPECIAL SKYBOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056358G), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Smith Donald Joe JR SMITH SPECIAL SKYBOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056358G), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing, the biplane touched down right of the centerline, and the propeller struck the runway. He added power to go around, but the biplane drifted right, so he maneuvered it toward a grass field right of the runway and shut off the engine. He then leveled the biplane, and it subsequently landed hard, and the main landing gear collapsed. The biplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing "I" strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the biplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The biplane pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane touched down right of the centerline and the propeller struck the runway. He added power to go-around, but the airplane drifted right, so he maneuvered the airplane to the grass field to the right of the runway and shut off the engine. He then leveled the airplane, the airplane landed hard, and the main landing gears collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing "I" strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N748JS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N748JS), registered now, S/N DJS001, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SKYBolt SMITH SPECIAL SKYBOL (No Series) - Registry model: [Smith Donald Joe JR SMITH SPECIAL SKYBOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-donald-joe-jr-smith-special-skybol) (registry code 056358G) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Vedeneyev M14P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/vedeneyev-m14p) (registry code 63601, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: DJS001 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 8.2 - Engines: SC Motorstart SRL VedeneyevM14p 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 11, 2019 - Departed: RMN, Stafford, VA - Destination: RMN, Stafford, VA - Airport: RMN, Stafford Rgnl, runway 33, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 8, 2017; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,823 total, 1.1 in this make and model, 2,713.1 as pilot in command, 13.8 in the last 90 days, 4.8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: RMN, 1 nm away ## 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 20190630016739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190630016739A), Jun 30, 2019: Smith Donald Joe Jr SMITH SPECIAL SKYBOL, Stafford, VA, Substantial damage. Aircraft records reviewed and aircraft was current prior to the flight. Operating limitations were not on board the aircraft. Aircraft was being tested for… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99803. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480077&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.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.