# NTSB CEN14LA290: Teunis Starduster TOO SA300, N8DT, Fort Worth, TX, June 4, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2014, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 32.829166, -97.535003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8292&lon=-97.5350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report January 14, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89445 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA290 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89445/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89445 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA290 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Teunis STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8660208), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Teunis STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8660208), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Teunis STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=8660208), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Teunis STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=8660208), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Teunis STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=8660208), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Teunis STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8660208), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Teunis STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8660208), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot attempted to return to the runway but was unable to reach it so he attempted to land on a 1/4-mile-long driveway that paralleled the runway, but the airplane struck a tree and impacted the driveway. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane's propeller and spinner had separated from the engine and had sustained minimal impact damage: there were no signatures of rotational damage consistent with the engine developing power at the time of impact. The airplane's fuel tanks were examined and no fuel was observed. The fuel tanks were not breached during the impact, and there was no evidence of fuel leaks or fuel stains at the accident site. The pilot was not a registered pilot and did not hold a Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate. The pilot's flight experience is unknown. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2014, about 1800 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Tuenis Starduster TOO SA300, N8DT, sustained substantial damage when it impacted tress and terrain after a loss of engine power during takeoff from the Flying Oaks Airport (2TE2), Fort Worth, Texas. The non-certificated pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot individual under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was departing 2TE2 about 1800. The airplane departed runway 15 (2,800 feet by 150 feet, turf). Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power and the pilot turned the airplane 180 degrees. He was unable to return to the runway, and the pilot attempted to land on a 1/4 mile long driveway that paralleled the runway. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a tree, and then impacted the driveway about 65 feet from the tree impact, and came to rest about 131 feet from the initial tree impact. A witness reported that she heard the engine sputter and lose power before it impacted the ground. The passenger was able to free himself from the wreckage, but the pilot in the rear seat had to be extricated by first responders who separated the fuselage aft of the pilot's seat. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector arrived at the accident site about 4 hours after the accident. The examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane's propeller and spinner had separated from the engine. There was minimal impact damage to the propeller blades and spinner, and there were no signatures of rotational damage consistent with an engine developing power. He observed no evidence of a fuel spill or fuel odor in the debris path. He removed the top wing fuel tank cap and there was no evidence of fuel. He checked the fuselage fuel tank for fuel and none was observed. There was no evidence of fuel leaks or fuel staining. He reported that the fuel tanks were intact and not breached. The following morning he returned to the accident site and checked the fuel tanks again with an inspection camera and confirmed that there was no fuel in the fuel tanks. The wreckage was moved with a tractor and the ground was checked for evidence of fuel, but none was observed within the wreckage area. The airplane was registered to the pilot. A bill of sale indicated that he purchased the airplane on January 27, 2014. Maintenance records indicated that the last conditional inspection of the airplane was conducted on December 9, 2013, with a reading tachometer time of 406.71 hours. The recording tachometer time at the accident site was 421.46 hours. The pilot was not a registered pilot and he did not hold a FAA medical certificate. The pilot's flight experience is unknown. The airplane's recording tachometer indicated that it had flown about 15 hours since the lastconditional maintenance inspection. The pilot did not provide the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) a completed NTSB Accident Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8DT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8DT-2018-03-19), registration cancelled 2018-03-19, S/N TST1, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEUNIS STARDUSTER TOO SA300 - Registry model: [Teunis STARDUSTER TOO SA300](https://openairdocs.org/model/teunis-starduster-too-sa300) (registry code 8660208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-340-series) (registry code 41510, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: TST1 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 406 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-340-A1A 170 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Carter Robert E - Registered owner: Carter Robert E - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 9, 2013, 15 hours before - Departed: 2TE2, Fort Worth, TX - Airport: 2TE2, Flying Oaks Airport, runway 15, 2,800 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; seat: front; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 15 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: AFW, 14 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 20140604015429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140604015429A), Jun 4, 2014: Teunis STARDUSTER TOO SA300, Fort Worth, TX, Destroyed. The pilot departed Flying Oaks Airport in aircraft N8DT at approximately 1800 central standard time. The aircraft departed the grass, north / south runway to… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89445. 12.5 MB in all. - Record of Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 757 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Aircraft Registration Information (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Registration%20Information-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 7.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Fair Oaks Airport and driveway (item 4, .PDF, 320 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fair%20Oaks%20Airport%20and%20driveway-Master.PDF - Photo 1- View of accident site (item 5, .PDF, 952 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-%20View%20of%20accident%20site-Master.PDF - Photo 2- View of propeller (item 6, .PDF, 953 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-%20View%20of%20propeller-Master.PDF - Photo 3- View of main wreckage (item 7, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-%20View%20of%20main%20wreckage%0D%0A%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Photo 4- View of fuel tank (item 8, .PDF, 917 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420034&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204-%20View%20of%20fuel%20tank%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Photo 5- View of fuel tank (item 9, .PDF, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205-%20View%20of%20fuel%20tank-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.