# NTSB ATL91LA004: E TN Plts Starduster Starduster II, N19SR, Knoxville, TN, October 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 17, 1990, 13:08 local (17:08 UTC)
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.909294, -83.869842 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9093&lon=-83.8698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8350
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8350/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA004

## Probable cause

PILOT'S INADVERTENT CLOSING OF THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE, WHICH TOTALLY OR PARTIALLY RESTRICTED FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadvertent deactivation, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AT ABOUT 300 FEET AGL DURING THE TAKEOFF LEG. THE AIRPLANE WAS FORCE LANDED IN A LAKE ABOUT 500 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. AN ENGINE EXAMINATION FAILED TO REVEAL THE SOURCE OF THE POWER LOSS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SOMEONE MAY HAVE PLACED THE FUEL LEVER INTO THE 'OFF' POSITION PRIOR TO FLIGHT. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY KICKED THE FUEL SWITCH TO THE 'OFF' POSITION. HE REPORTED THAT HE DOES NOT USE A CHECKLIST, AND HE SETS THE COCKPIT SWITCHES UP FOR THE NEXT FLIGHT AFTER ENGINE SHUTDOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N19SR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: E TN PLTS STARDUSTER STARDUSTER II (STARDUSTER)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 389
- Airframe hours: 108
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: East Tennessee Pilot'S Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 1990, 11 hours before
- Airport: TN98, Sky Ranch, runway 19, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,500 total, 156 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TYS, 2 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19901017046219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901017046219A), Oct 17, 1990: Amtrso STARDUSTER2, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Force landed in lake off end of runway. Pilot believed fuel selector off on takeoff.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.