# Accident 19981124042219A: Amtr STAROSSA260, Marion, TX, November 24, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 24, 1998, 16:00 local time
- Place: Marion, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.5706° N, 98.1390° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5706&lon=-98.1390&mi=10
- Aircraft: N540HC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N540HC-2001-11-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stanton James R STAROS SA 260 (registry code 05602YR, https://openairdocs.org/model/stanton-james-r-staros-sa-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR STAROSSA260
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA034) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981124042219A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON NOVEMBER 24, 1998, AT 1555 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-BUILT STANTON STAROS SA 260, AEROBATIC AIRPLANE, N540HC, WAS DESTROYED WHEN AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE ERUPTED WHILE MANEUVERING AND IT IMPACTED TERRAIN NEAR MARION, TEXAS. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO HC & NR, INC., AND OPERATED BY THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WHO SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE ZUEHL AIRPORT, MARION, TEXAS. THE PILOT REPORTED TO WITNESSES THAT HE WAS AT THE "TOP OF AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER, HEARD A LOUD BANG" AND THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A SLIP. THE PILOT STATED THAT FUEL BEGAN TO "SPRAY ONTO HIM" AND HE BAILED OUT OF THE AIRPLANE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT BAILED OUT OF THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET AGL AND THE PARACHUTE "OPENED AT TREE-TOP LEVEL." THE PILOT WAS TRANSPORTED BY EMS TO THE BROOKS ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, FOR TREATMENT, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN 1 MILE FROM THE ZUEHL AIRPORT. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND REPORTED THAT A FIRE CONSUMED THE ENTIRE FABRIC COVERED AIRPLANE.              HE ADDED THAT THE PARACHUTE AND PILOT'S APPAREL, INCLUDING HIS SUNGLASSES AND GLOVES, WERE CHARRED AND MELTED. (-23) ON NOVEMBER 24, 1998, AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 HOURS, A STAROS 260 OWNED BY HC & NR INC. AND OPERATED BY HENRY F. COFFEEN CRASHED WHILE PERFORMING MANEUVERS IN THE ZUEHL AEROBATIC PRACTICE BOX. THE AIRCRAFT EXPLODED INTO FLAMES AND THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT BY PARACHUTE. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW99LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA034), Nov 24, 1998: Stanton Staros SA 260 (N540HC), Marion, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: The fuel leak for an undetermined reason which resulted in an in-flight fire.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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