Undetermined · NTSB ERA09LA371
LAYSON STANLEY B STEEN SKY BOLT — High Point, NC
| Date | June 27, 2009 |
| Location | High Point, NC |
| Aircraft | LAYSON STANLEY B STEEN SKY BOLT (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Post-impact Fire/smoke (post-impact) |
| Pilot age | 62 |
| Pilot total time | 640 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Wire-Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Climb rate-Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues-Task performance-(general)-(general)-Pilot - C
What happened
The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings during his second flight in the newly-acquired airplane. According to witnesses, after landing long on the 2,365-foot turf and gravel runway, the pilot initiated another takeoff and climb. The airplane subsequently began to turn, and the left main landing gear struck unmarked power lines 34 feet off the ground, about 110 yards beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane then cartwheeled into the ground and caught fire. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies. Toxicological testing indicated that the pilot used a prescription sleep aid the previous evening, but that impairment at the time of the accident was unlikely. The pilot was required to wear corrective lenses; however, it is unknown if he was wearing them at the time of the accident.