# NTSB CEN13CA479: Kerr Matthew Starduster TOO, N159MK, Frankenmuth, MI, August 10, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 10, 2013, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Frankenmuth, MI - Coordinates: 43.313888, -83.709724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3139&lon=-83.7097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 87755 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA479 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87755/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87755 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA479 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent impact with a corn field. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Kerr Matthew STARDUSTER TOO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8660385), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Kerr Matthew STARDUSTER TOO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8660385), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Kerr Matthew STARDUSTER TOO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8660385), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis In a statement provided to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot reported that while landing on the narrow runway the wind was prevailing from the left. During the landing roll, the pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane and correct for the wind, but the airplane veered to the right and exited the runway. The airplane continued to the right into a corn field, came to rest upright, and sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. An FAA Inspector examined the airplane and found no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative In a statement provided to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot reported that while landing on the narrow runway the wind was prevailing from the left. During the landing roll, the pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane and correct for the wind, but the airplane veered to the right and exited the runway. The airplane continued to the right into a corn field, came to rest upright, and sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. An FAA Inspector examined the airplane and found no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N159MK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N159MK), registered now, S/N MK-2 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KERR MATTHEW STARDUSTER TOO - Registry model: [Kerr Matthew STARDUSTER TOO](https://openairdocs.org/model/kerr-matthew-starduster-too) (registry code 8660385) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-435](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-435) (registry code 41516, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: MK-2 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-435 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Matthew Kerr - Registered owner: Matthew Kerr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 66G, Frankenmuth, MI - Destination: 3CM, Bay City, MI - Airport: 66G, Zehnder Field Airport, runway 09, 2,350 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KHYX, 15 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 20130810014589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130810014589A), Aug 10, 2013: Kerr Matthew STARDUSTER TOO, Frankenmuth, MI, Substantial damage. Upon landing runway 9 Frankenmuth Zehnder field (66G) mi, pilot over shot the runway, aircraft right wing hit the corn field forcing the entire aircraft into… ## Other investigations on N159MK (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 CHI98LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA231), Jul 1, 1998: Kerr Startduster TOO (N159MK), Bay City, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to assure the tailwheel tire had adequate pressure which resulted in his inability to maintain directional control of the airplane during a landing. Factors associated with the… - [NTSB DEN86LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA180), Jun 28, 1986: Mathew M. Kerr Starduster TOO (N159MK), Roundup, MT, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87755. 70 KB in all. - Correspondence - FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402131&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.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.