# NTSB NYC86FHM04: Ward Skybolt, N2TW, Cranford, NJ, August 4, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: August 4, 1986, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Cranford, NJ
- Location: 40.6544° N, 74.3086° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cranford, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6544&lon=-74.3086&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30223
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86FHM04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30223/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86FHM04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, unknown
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE POP, SPUTTER AND THEN GO SILENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO CONTINUALLY LOSE ALTITUDE, THEN VISUAL CONTACT WAS LOST DUE TO THE TREE LINE.  POST-ACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED OR AVAILABLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2TW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: WARD SKYBOLT
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 73
- Engines: unknown UNK reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edwin Arthur Tarr
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: LDJ, LINDEN, NJ
- Destination: LDJ, LINDEN, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport, commercial, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: rear; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 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 19860804037399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860804037399A), Aug 4, 1986: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Cranford, NJ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Observed engine sputtering and homebuilt crashed into trees. Had run out of fuel.

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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