# NTSB MKC86FA077: Donald R. Casper Skyote, N106DC, St. Louis, MO, March 31, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 31, 1986, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Coordinates: 38.660724, -90.459716 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6607&lon=-90.4597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34060
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC86FA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34060/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86FA077

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - spiral - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent

## Analysis

THE PILOT BUILT THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE FROM DATA OBTAINED FROM SKYOTE AEROMARINE LTD. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE HAD 51 HOURS ON IT AND THE PILOT/BUILDER HAD FLOWN ALL OF THE 51 HOURS. ON THIS FLIGHT HE WAS OBSERVED TO DEPART ON RUNWAY 16, FLY OUT FOR OVER A MILE, MAKE AN ABRUPT 180 DEGREE TURN WITH THE WINGS BANKED 90 DEGREES. THE WINGS WERE LEVELED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A LEFT NOSEDOWN SPIRAL. AFTER ONE COMPLETE TURN, THE AIRPLANE STOPPED TURNING BUT CONTINUED IN A 70 TO 80 DEGREES NOSEDOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL IT COULD NO LONGER BE SEEN DUE TO TREES IN THE LINE OF SIGHT. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN A WIDE OPEN, LEVEL FIELD, ALMOST STRAIGHT DOWN. NO PREIMPACT PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE COULD BE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N106DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N106DC-1990-05-22), registration cancelled 1990-05-22, S/N 23 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DONALD R. CASPER SKYOTE
- Registry model: [Casper Donald R SKYOTE](https://openairdocs.org/model/casper-donald-r-skyote) (registry code 05653K9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 23
- Airframe hours: 51
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald R. Casper
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 1985, 25 hours before
- Airport: 1HO, Creve Coeur

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,046 total, 51 in this make and model, 1,021 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STL, 7 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 19860331008329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860331008329A), Mar 31, 1986: St Louis, MO, Destroyed. Executed acrobatic maneuvers shortly after takeoff. Spun to ground impact. No mechanical malfunction found.

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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