# NTSB ATL94LA126: Green Starduster TOO, N11TG, Chattanooga, TN, June 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 1994, 10:59 local (14:59 UTC) - Place: Chattanooga, TN - Coordinates: 34.999706, -85.230445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9997&lon=-85.2304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3406 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3406/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA126 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL, AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT IN CHATTANOOGA ON AN ASSIGNED HEADING OF 155 DEGREES. THE PILOT WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO TURN LEFT, ON COURSE, TO HIS DESTINATION. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT IN A STEEP BANK OVER INTERSTATE 75, FOLLOWED BY A STALL AND STEEP DESCENT INTO THE TREES. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ADJACENT TO THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. AFTER RECOVERING FROM HIS INJURIES, THE PILOT COULD NOT RECALL THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE ACCIDENT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 1994, at 1059 eastern daylight time, a Green Starduster Too, N11TG, collided with trees and terrain following an in flight loss of control at Chattanooga, Tennessee. The commercial pilot was seriously injured, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight to Collegedale, Tennessee. The flight originated at Lovell Field in Chattanooga at 1055. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to fly to Collegedale to pick up another pilot. He recalled that he ate breakfast prior to the flight. He did not recall any subsequent events on that day, including any preflight preparations, or the accident flight. According to Air Traffic Control personnel, the flight had departed the airport in Chattanooga, and was assigned a heading of 155 degrees. After a handoff to Departure Control, the pilot was told to turn left, on course, to Collegedale. Moments later, the aircraft disappeared from radar, and no subsequent communications were received from the pilot. A witness, who was also a police officer and pilot, observed the aircraft over Interstate 75, "in a steep bank." He observed the bank angle steepen, until the airplane entered a spin, at an altitude of about 400 to 500 feet above ground level. The airplane then went into the trees, next to the interstate highway, nose first. Another witness reported that the aircraft was in a steep bank turn, before it went into a "nose dive into the trees," and "looks like the plane stalled." The engine was removed from the airframe and transported to a maintenance facility for examination. The propeller and spinner was still attached to the engine. The blade surfaces showed no evidence of rotational damage or scoring. One blade was bent aft. The propeller was rotated by hand, and internal continuity was noted throughout the engine. Compression was noted on all cylinders, except the number one cylinder. This cylinder was removed and inspected, with no discrepancies noted. Both magnetos produced a spark when rotated with an electric drill. The fuel manifold was opened, with residual fuel observed on the interior. The engine driven fuel pump operated normally, and contained about 2 tablespoons of fuel. A visual inspection of internal engine parts did not reveal evidence of discoloration or lack of lubrication. Due to the extent of the pilot's injuries, an NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Report) was not requested from the pilot. The applicable information from the report was obtained from other sources, and through a subsequent telephonic interview with the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11TG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11TG-2013-04-10), registration cancelled 2013-04-10, S/N TG1, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GREEN STARDUSTER TOO (STARDUSTER) - Registry model: [Green STARDUSTER TOO](https://openairdocs.org/model/green-starduster-too) (registry code 8660182) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: TG1 - Airframe hours: 272 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mccarthy, James D. - Registered owner: Mccarthy, James D. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1993, 49 hours before - Destination: 3M3, COLLEGEDALE, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,855 total, 72 in this make and model, 164 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 5 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 19940625017129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940625017129A), Jun 25, 1994: Amtrso STARDUSTER2, Chattanooga, TN, Substantial damage. Observed to stall and spin into trees. Pilot has no recall of events prior to accident. No power on impact. ## Other investigations on N11TG (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 LAX76DUG47](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76DUG47), Apr 24, 1976: Starduster TOO (N11TG), Sun City, CA, 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.