# NTSB LAX85FA239: Earnst Skybolt, N10DE, Paso Robles, CA, May 4, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 1985, 16:21 local (23:21 UTC) - Place: Paso Robles, CA - Coordinates: 35.609817, -120.760932 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6098&lon=-120.7609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 24503 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24503/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA239 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - disabled - visual lookout - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - disconnected - airport operations - inadequate, airport personnel (contributing factor) - flight control,rudder - disconnected - flight control,rudder surface - distorted - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - failure,total (contributing factor) - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) - wing,spar - failure,total (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - wing,skin - penetrated - visual lookout - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause) - acft/equip inadequate,visual restriction, pilot in command (cause) - airport operations - inadequate, airport personnel (contributing factor) - engine assembly,mount - bent ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A CESSNA 150 AND A HOME BUILT SKYBOLT ACFT COLLIDED WHILE ON A DOWNWIND LEG OF A TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND. THE SKYBOLT WAS A COMPETITOR IN A LOCAL AEROBATIC COMPETITION EAST OF THE ARPT. THE C-150 WAS RETURNING FROM A STUDENT PLT TRAINING X-COUNTRY FLT. BOTH ACFT HAD RADIOS AND HAD ANNOUNCED THEIR POSITIONS IN TRAFFIC. BOTH WERE FLYING STRAIGHT & LEVEL AT APRX 1800 FT AGL WITH THE SKYBOLT SLIGHTLY HIGHER. THE ACFT CONVERGED SLOWLY AT ABOUT THE SAME AIRSPEED. AN OFFICIAL OF THE COMPETITION WARNED THE ACFT OF THEIR PROXIMITY. THE CESSNA PLT BOTH SAW & FELT HIS PROP CONTACT THE TAIL SECTION OF THE OTHER ACFT AS IT CAME FROM BEHIND AND ABOVE HIM. THE SKYBOLT PLT FELT THE IMPACT AND THEN SAW THE CESSNA BELOW HIM. BOTH ACFT WERE ABLE TO LAND BUT THE SKYBOLT GROUNDLOOPED AFTER LANDING DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR. THE COMPETITION CONTESTANTS AND NORMAL TRAFFIC WERE INTERMIXED IN TRAFFIC WITH NO ATTEMPT AT SEGREGATION BY DESIGNATION OF DEDICATED AREAS FOR EACH. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N10DE (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: EARNST SKYBOLT - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 275 - Engines: LYCOMING 0360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Dennis Earnst - Registered owner: Dennis Earnst - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 1985 - Airport: PRB, Paso Rubles Muni, runway 19, 6,009 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N3010V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3010V), registered now, S/N 15076349 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 76349 - Airframe hours: 4895 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Patroline Inc., doing business as Executive Air Center - Registered owner: Patroline, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 27, 1985, 10 hours before - Departed: L5Z, OCEANO - Airport: PRB, Paso Rubles Muni, runway 19, 6,009 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N10DE; age 39; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 2,170 total, 270 in this make and model, 1,996 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N3010V; age 41; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 47 total, 34 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 7 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PRB ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19850504077852A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850504077852A), May 4, 1985: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Paso Robles, CA, Substantial damage. Empannage was struck from the rear and below by propeller of 150 N3010V as both merged on downwind for landing. - [Accident 19850504077851A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850504077851A), May 4, 1985: Cessna 150, Paso Robles, CA, Substantial damage. Merged on downwind with skybolt N10DE and struck the empannage of the skybolt with his propeller. Did not see other. 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.