Pilot Says Structural Failure Led To Bailout

An unidentified pilot told the Canyon County Sheriff's Office that he was practicing aerobatic maneuvers in a Steen Skybolt (similar plane pictured in file photo) Monday afternoon about 1300 local time when the aircraft suffered a structural failure. He parachuted to safety as the plane crashed into an alfalfa field near Greenleaf, west of Boise, Idaho.

KTVB-TV reports the pilot had taken off from Caldwell Industrial Airport (KUEL). The pilot, who was not injured, was not identified. The NTSB will investigate. (FAA initial report below.)

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 77VW        Make/Model: EXP       Description: STEEN SKYBOLT
  Date: 09/19/2011     Time: 1910

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: CALDWELL   State: ID   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE INFLIGHT, PERSON ON BOARD BAILED OUT, DEPLOYED A
  PARCHUTE AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A FIELD, NEAR
  CALDWELL, ID

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: 191955Z AUTO 33005KT 10SM CLR 24/07 A3011

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: BOISE, ID  (NM11)                     Entry date: 09/20/2011

FMI: www.ktvb.com/news/Stunt-plane-crashes-in-Canyon-County-field-pilot-safely-ejects-130144723.html