# Accident 20030628015289A: Amtr STARDUSTER2, Ellicott, CO, June 28, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 28, 2003, 11:40 local time
- Place: Ellicott, CO
- Airport: Colrado Springs East Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8728° N, 104.4117° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8728&lon=-104.4117&mi=10
- Aircraft: N80T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80T-2003-12-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mattison STARDUSTER TOO (registry code 8660317, https://openairdocs.org/model/mattison-starduster-too) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6A&6V335 series (registry code 27020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a-6v335-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR STARDUSTER2
- Reported engine: FRNKLN 6A335B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN03FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03FA113) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030628015289A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED COLORADO SPRINGS EAST AIRPORT (A50), ELLICOTT COLORADO AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PERFORMING A LOW LEVEL FLIGHT OVER THE ELLICOTT RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INVERTED AND NOSE FIRST. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY TWO-THIRDS OF THE THROUGH THE ROLL THE AIRPLANE FLEW INTO THE GROUND AT A STEEP ANGLE. DUE TO THE WITNESS STATEMENTS IT IS APPARENT THAT AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER (ROLL TO THE RIGHT) WAS THE INTENTION OF THE PILOT. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT OR AN ERROR IN THE PILOTS' JUDGMENT, POSSIBLY BOTH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A COLD WELD ATTACHED THE ELEVATOR CONTROL BELL CRANK TO THE ELEVATOR. THIS WELD LACKED SUFFICIENT PENETRATION AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF CORROSION IN THE WELD AREA OF SEPARATION. DOCUMENTS INSPECTED AFTER THE CRASH SHOW THAT, A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP HAD TAKEN PLACE. THE AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION FORM 8050-3 ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH DOES NOT REFLECT THE CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP. (-23 AMENDMENT) 09/26/03, AMENDED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL DATA. ENGINE TEARDOWN CONDUCTED ON AUGUST 19, 2003, OBSERVED BY THE NTSB SHOWED NO ANOMALIES.     THE NTSB MATERIALS LABORATORY EXAMINED THE AIRPLANES ELEVATOR HORN AND INTERCONNECT ROD. A PORTION OF THE ELEVATOR HORN TO INTERCONNECT ROD-WELDED SEGMENT WAS FRACTURED ALONG AREAS OF INCOMPLETE FUSION. AN INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED FOR WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN INVALID REGISTRATION FOR THIS AIRCRAFT. THAT INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED OUT AS NO ACTION. THERE IS NO CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT THE NINE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT.

## 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 DEN03FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03FA113), Jun 28, 2003: Mattison Starduster Too (N80T), Ellicott, CO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision to perform aerobatics at low altitude and the failed welds at the elevator horn and torque tube. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot…

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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