Steen Skybolt JW5 N124J

Summary

On 2 June 1991 at about 20:15 local time, a Steen Skybolt JW5 registered N124J, operated by Dudley P. Bittel, was involved in an accident near Grand Prairie, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 June 1991 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Prairie, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.6899, -97.0094

Aircraft

Steen Skybolt JW5

Registration

N124J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dudley P. Bittel

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW91FA089

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM REFUELING AND MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ABOVE VS (STALL). A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL BI-PLANE DEPARTED THE AIRPORT FOR A SHORT PERSONAL FLIGHT AND DID NOT REFUEL HIS AIRCRAFT. A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AS THE AIRCRAFT FLEW OVER A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND HIGH TENSION POWER LINES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED SLOWLY DESCENDING TOWARD A FIELD. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT'S WINGS WOBBLED, THE NOSE DROPPED, AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL. A FEW OUNCES OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE MAIN FUEL TANK AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE FUEL PUMPS WERE TESTED AND WERE FUNCTIONAL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.