Pilot seriously injured after experimental plane stalls and crashes near Big Bear Airport

A Steen Skybolt experimental aircraft went down in a field east of Big Bear Airport on Thursday evening after its engine stalled on approach, leaving the sole occupant hospitalized with serious injuries. San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies found the yellow plane nose-down in the field after responding around 6:20 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27[1]. No one on the ground was hurt.

According to the FAA, the aircraft had departed Big Bear Airport and was attempting to return to land when the engine stalled[1]. The plane tipped over onto its nose before coming to rest in the field east of the airport. The pilot was the only person aboard and was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital[1]. As of early Friday afternoon, Aug. 28, his name and condition had not been publicly disclosed[1].

FAA records show the aircraft is registered to a resident of Mohave Valley, Arizona, and received its airworthiness certificate in 2004[1]. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reported no damage to property on the ground beyond the aircraft itself[1].

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash[1]. NTSB investigations typically take several months to complete and result in a public probable-cause report. Big Bear News will update this story as the pilot's condition and the investigation's findings become available.