# Accident 20181012019769A: Menzel Conrad SA300 STARDUSTER, Byhalia, MS, October 12, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 2018, 14:00 local time
- Place: Byhalia, MS
- Airport: Maidment Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.7108° N, 89.7192° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7108&lon=-89.7192&mi=10
- Aircraft: N503CM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N503CM-2020-10-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Menzel Conrad SA300 STARDUSTER (registry code 86603EB, https://openairdocs.org/model/menzel-conrad-sa300-starduster) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HO-360 series (registry code 41513, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MENZEL CONRAD SA300 STARDUSTER
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HO-360
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, unknown or foreign certificate
- Pilot flight hours: 331 total, 39 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA016) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181012019769A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED HE ENTERED THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 35 AT APPROX. 1200? AGL.  ABEAM THE 35 THRESHOLD AT APPROX. 1100? AGL WITH 80-90MPH.  AS I INITIATED A CONSTANT RADIUS DESCENDING TURN THROUGH 180 DEGREES TO LINE UP ON RUNWAY 35.  I SAW THAT I WAS TOO LOW TO CONTINUE DESCENDING AND APPLIED POWER TO APPROX. 1900-2000 RPM WHICH IS THE NORMAL RPM IN N503CM TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 80-90MPH AT A HEIGHT I ESTIMATED TO BE APPROX.  100? ABOVE THE TREETOPS AND 200? TO 300? SHORT OF THE TREELINE.  AT THIS POINT EVERYTHING WAS LOOKING GOOD TO CROSS THE TREE LINE 50?-100? ABOVE THE TREE TOPS WHICH IS APPROX. THE HEIGHT I HAD USED BEFORE TO LAND ON RUNWAY35.  AS I APPROACHED THE TREE LINE THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY SANK AND BEFORE I COULD RESPOND WITH BACK STICK AND POWER I HIT THE TREES.  MY RECOLLECTION FROM THAT POINT IS VAGUE AT BEST.  THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL FAILURE, NO STALL/SPIN AND IN MY OPINION THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A DOWNDRAFT THAT CAUGHT THE AIRCRAFT AT A CRITICAL POINT IN THE LANDING APPROACH.

THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TREETOPS WITH THE LEFT WINGS AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 120 FEET FROM THE FIRST NOTED IMPACT.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED ON THE GROUND WITH THE PILOT TRAPPED UNDER THE AIRCRAFT.  IMPACT DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON THE LEFT WINGS.  THERE WAS CONTINUITY OF FLIGHT CONTROLS AND EVIDENCE OF FUEL.  NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE FOUND DURING THE ON SITE INVESTIGATION.

## 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 ERA19LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA016), Oct 12, 2018: Sa300 Starduster (N503CM), Byhalia, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path, which resulted a collision with trees short of the runway.

## Other reports on N503CM (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20010526010499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010526010499A), May 26, 2001: Amtr SA300 (N503CM), Jackson, MS, Substantial damage. (-23)Landed on runway 16 winds 12 KTS variable with gusts from 270 degrees. Shortly after touchdown aircraft weathervaned into wind. Left rudder applied…

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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