# NTSB ATL91LA141: Maridon Starduster TOO, N3263, Locust Grove, GA, July 24, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 1991, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Locust Grove, GA - Coordinates: 33.34032, -84.099929 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3403&lon=-84.0999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8443 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8443/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA141 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH RESULTED FROM THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE LOCAL PILOT'S HAVING BECOME LOST. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not obtained, copilot/second pilot (cause) - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis TWO FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, ONE LOCAL & ONE FROM CALIFORNIA, WERE PRACTICING LANDINGS. INSTRUMENTS WERE IN REAR COCKPIT. REAR PILOT NOTED FUEL INDICATION WAS EMPTY. FUEL WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT FBO ON PRACTICE AIRPORT. FUEL TANK WAS DIPPED & FRONT SEAT PILOT BELIEVED FUEL WAS SUFFICIENT TO REACH HOME AIRPORT ABOUT 8 MINUTES AWAY. EN ROUTE, VISIBILITY DECREASED. UPON REACHING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, HEADING WAS ALTERED AWAY FROM HOME AIRPORT. AFTER A FEW MILES, MISTAKE WAS RECOGNIZED & COURSE REVERSED. THE ENGINE QUIT ABOUT 3 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. ACFT EXAMINATION REVEALED ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE GASCOLATOR & NONE IN THE LINE BETWEEN THE GASCOLATOR & THE CARBURETOR. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3263](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3263-2012-04-16), registration cancelled 2012-04-16, S/N 001, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MARIDON STARDUSTER TOO (STARDUSTER) - Registry model: [Mardion STARDUSTER TOO](https://openairdocs.org/model/mardion-starduster-too) (registry code 8660157) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs L4 /R755-7](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-l4-r755-7) (registry code 35003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 273 - Engines: JACOBS L4MB 24 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roberts, William B - Last inspection: Annual, July 6, 1991, 8 hours before - Departed: 4A7, HAMPTON, GA - Destination: GA04, MALLARD'S LDG., GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,600 total, 7 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 4 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 24 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 19910724029709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910724029709A), Jul 24, 1991: Amtrso STARDUSTER2, Locust Grove, GA, Substantial damage. Trying to find airport with low fuel and thick haze engine quit. Crashed into trees. No fuel but tank ruptured. ## Other investigations on N3263 (2) 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 NYC77FGM37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77FGM37), Aug 20, 1977: Starduster TOO (N3263), Grove City, PA, substantial damage - [NTSB NYC73DGM06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73DGM06), Aug 20, 1972: Starduster TOO (N3263), Volant, PA, substantial damage 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.