Stolp Starduster SA-300 N4493

Summary

On 26 May 2014 at about 00:05 local time, a Stolp Starduster SA-300 registered N4493, operated by Thomas James B, was involved in an accident near Newton, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 May 2014 at 00:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Newton, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.6239, -81.1383

Aircraft

Stolp Starduster SA-300

Registration

N4493

Category

Airplane

Year built

1971

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas James B

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Maiden → Maiden

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14FA256

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to recover from an intentional spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of adequate spin entry and recovery training.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Several witnesses reported seeing the airplane spiral to the ground. A review of a video recorded by another witness revealed that, during the flight, the airplane entered a left spin and completed about seven revolutions before descending behind a treeline and impacting a wheat field. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. A flight instructor reported that the pilot had been attempting to teach himself aerobatics in his experimental, amateur-built airplane before the accident and that he had provided the pilot one aerobatic lesson in the pilot's airplane. The flight instructor noted that the pilot's knowledge and skill level with spin entry and recovery were inadequate. The pilot subsequently contacted the flight instructor on two more occasions and requested more training. The flight instructor agreed to do the training as long as it was performed in his airplane; however, the pilot would not agree to use the instructor's airplane and did not receive further aerobatic training.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.