Plane Crash List

Thacker STARDUSTER TOO SA300 N14525

2 May 1997 · Lake Wales, Florida, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 2 May 1997 at about 18:15 local time, a Thacker STARDUSTER TOO SA300 registered N14525 was involved in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 18:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Lake Wales, Florida, United States
Nearest airport
Lake Wales (X07)
Coordinates
27.8691, -81.6291
Aircraft
Thacker STARDUSTER TOO SA300
Registration
N14525
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Unknown → Jacksonville
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
MIA97LA157

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

failure of the tail wheel to lock in the centered detent during the beginning of the takeoff roll, which resulted in the pilot being unable to maintain directional control and the aircraft drifting off the runway and nosing over in the soft ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff roll, the aircraft drifted to the right, and application of left rudder did not correct the drift. The aircraft went off the right side of the runway, and the pilot aborted the takeoff. With application of left brake the aircraft nosed over in the soft ground. The pilot stated he had no mechanical difficulties with the aircraft and that he believed the tail wheel did not lock in the center detent during the start of the takeoff roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other accidents in this area

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10 Apr 1997 Cessna 152
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La Crosse, Florida, United States - No injuries -
10 Apr 1997 Navion A
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Quincy, Florida, United States - No injuries -
13 Apr 1997 Diamond DA 20-A1
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Hollywood, Florida, United States Pelican Airways No injuries -
15 Jul 1997 Cessna 172N
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Lakeland, Florida, United States - No injuries -
18 Apr 1997 Cessna 150M
N63666
Ormond Beach, Florida, United States - No injuries -
19 Jul 1997 Bellanca 8GCBC
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Bunnell, Florida, United States - Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States