- Date
- July 31, 1994, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- North Pole, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N43111Starman Teirra II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 25, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19940731024359A
- Case key
- 2532
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The seizure of the no. 2 cylinder as a result of an inadequate cooling system for the high ambient temperature.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Shortly after takeoff, while in cruise flight, the engine quit without warning. A post accident inspection of the engine by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that the no. 2 engine cylinder had overheated and seized up. At the time of the accident, the ambient temperature was 95 degrees fahrenheit.
Factual narrative
On July 31, 1994, at 1400 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Starman Teerra-II experimental homebuilt ultralight airplane, N43111, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with terrain as a result of a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The accident site is across from the Bradley Sky Ranch Airport on the south side of the Tanana River. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the ultralight was substantially damaged. The local VFR pleasure flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed the Bradley Skyranch Airport at about 1330. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was on file.
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, while in cruise flight at 200 ft. above the ground, the engine quit without warning. He performed an emergency landing by stalling the airplane just above a lightly wooded area and letting it settle into the trees.
A post accident examination of the engine by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that the No. 2 engine cylinder had overheated and seized up.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N43111
- Reported as
- Starman Teirra II
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 121691
- Airframe hours
- 110
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Starman, Sylvester H.
- Registered owner
- Starman, Sylvester H.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 10, 1993 · 110 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 230 total · 110 in this make and model · 230 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.