# NTSB NYC88DHA01: Couden Skybolt, N341SB, Mansfield, NJ, November 1, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: November 1, 1987, 16:38 local (21:38 UTC)
- Place: Mansfield, NJ
- Location: 40.0912° N, 74.7138° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mansfield, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0912&lon=-74.7138&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 12, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88DHA01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35974/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88DHA01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES OBSERVED ACFT PERFORMING MULTIPLE AEROBATIC MANEUVERS. THEY SAID AIRPLANE WAS PERFORMING VERTICAL MANEUVER OR NEARING TOP OF LOOP WHEN IT ENTERED AN INVERTED FLAT SPIN. ROTATION WAS STOPPED, BUT RECOVERY INCOMPLETE WHEN AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A HAY FIELD. WITNESSES SAID THEY HEARD LOUD ENGINE NOISE UNTIL IMPACT WITH GROUND. AIRPLANE DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND POSTCRASH FIRE. PROPELLER REVEALED EVIDENCE OF POWER AT IMPACT. EXAMINATION OF WRECKAGE REVEALED NO INDICATION OF PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N341SB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N341SB-1988-11-30), registration cancelled 1988-11-30, S/N 01977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COUDEN SKYBOLT
- Registry model: [Coudon SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/coudon-skybolt) (registry code 05655G4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 01977
- Airframe hours: 228
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6A-350-C1 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kevin A. Whiting
- Registered owner: Milton E. Beers
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, April 1, 1987, 48 hours before
- Departed: N05, HACKETTSTOWN, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 720 total, 33 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- 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 19871101061359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871101061359A), Nov 1, 1987: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Mansfield, NJ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. The aircraft entered an inverted spin during aerobatics. The pilot was unable to recover.

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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