# NTSB CEN13CA037: Bates Starduster SA-300, N2369, Reklaw, TX, October 27, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 27, 2012, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Reklaw, TX - Coordinates: 31.839721, -94.961112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8397&lon=-94.9611&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85479 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85479/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85479 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA037 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a noseover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Bates STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=8660194), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bates STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8660194), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bates STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=8660194), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Bates STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=8660194), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Bates STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8660194), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing on a private grass airstrip and that the grass was wet from the previous night’s rain. He stated that the airstrip was not flat and had sections that rolled up and down. He added that the airplane touched down harder than usual, which caused the landing gear to spread outward on the wet grass. The engine’s propeller was then low enough to contact the rising terrain, and the airplane nosed over. A witness reported that the airplane bounced on the runway about three times before the airplane nosed over. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, top wings, and the engine firewall. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was landing on a private grass airstrip and that the grass was wet from the previous night’s rain. He stated that the airstrip was not flat and had sections that rolled up and down. He added that the airplane touched down harder than usual, which caused the landing gear to spread outward on the wet grass. The engine’s propeller was then low enough to contract the rising terrain and the airplane nosed over. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, top wings, and the engine firewall. A witness reported that the airplane bounced on the runway about three times, before the airplane nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2369](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2369-2018-01-02), registration cancelled 2018-01-02, S/N DB-1, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BATES STARDUSTER SA-300 - Registry model: [Bates STARDUSTER SA-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/bates-starduster-sa-300) (registry code 8660194) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DB-1 - Airframe hours: 915 - Engines: CONT MOTOR I0-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 7, 2012 - Departed: KHQZ, Mesquite, TX - Destination: 7TA7, Reklaw, TX - Airport: 7TA7, Flying M Ranch, runway 02, 3,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2012; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,500 total, 45 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KJSO, 13 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 20121027025019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121027025019A), Oct 27, 2012: Bates STARDUSTER SA-300, Reklaw, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft was landed hard, bouncing in a t least three times. When it finally settled in it was in a depressed area of the runway surface and the propeller came… ## Other investigations on N2369 (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 CHI78FEE31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEE31), Apr 27, 1978: Amateur SA-300 (N2369), Dekalb, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85479. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383166&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Witness and notification details (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383265&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20and%20notification%20details-Redacted.PDF - Photo: Accident airplane (non NTSB photo) (item 4, .PDF, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383168&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Accident%20airplane%20%20%20%20%20%20%20(non%20NTSB%20photo)-Master.PDF 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.