# Accident 20010923025779A: Digima STARDUSTER2, Watertown, CT, September 23, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 23, 2001, 13:30 local time
- Place: Watertown, CT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5672° N, 73.1858° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5672&lon=-73.1858&mi=10
- Aircraft: N49894, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49894-2002-01-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Digimas STARDUSTER TOO (registry code 8660169, https://openairdocs.org/model/digimas-starduster-too) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIGIMA STARDUSTER2
- Reported engine: LYC IO320E2A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 17 total, 17 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD01LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010923025779A

## Narrative

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

(-23) RECEIVED INITAL NOTIFICATION AT 1345 HOURS, SUNDAY 09/23/2001 THAT A SMALL AIRPLANE HAD CRASHED IN WATERTOWN, CT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ARRIVED AT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ON OR ABOUT 3 P.M. BEHIND THE RESIDENCE WAS A STARDUSTER TOO, EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT TWO WING AIRCRAFT LYING ON ITS SIDE JUST BEHIND THE TREE LINE OF THE OWNERS PROPERTY, APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET FROM THE OWNERS HOME. THERE WERE NUMEROUS BROKEN TREE BRANCHES, LEAVES AND AIRCRAFT PIECES LITTERING THE YARD. PIECES OF THE AIRCRAFT COULD BE SEEN HANGING FROM THE POINT OF ENTRY TO THE IMPACT SITE. THE ESTIMATED PATH CUT THRU THE TREES WAS 150-200 FEET. A CLEAR PATH ISVISIBLE FROM THE TOP OF THE TREES (80-100 FEET IN HEIGHT) TO THE IMPACT SITE. THE WINGS WERE RIPPED OPEN AND WRAPPED AROUND THE FUSELAGE. PORTIONS OF THE PROPELLER COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE PILOT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND WAS PARTIALLY BURIED IN THE DIRT.

## 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 IAD01LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA106), Sep 23, 2001: Digimas Starduster Too (N49894), Watertown, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's inattention while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in collision with trees. A factor in the accident was the student pilot's intentional low-altitude maneuvering.

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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