# NTSB CHI03LA120: Yadon Starflight Stiletto, N42KY, Peculiar, MO, April 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 20, 2003, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Peculiar, MO - Coordinates: 38.700553, -94.473609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7006&lon=-94.4736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56947 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56947/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA120 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent shutdown of the engine. Contributing factors were unsuitable terrain and trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - engine shutdown - inadvertent, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing into trees after a complete loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot reported he was in cruise flight when, "the engine stopped running after I inadvertently hit the 'KILL' switch. Realizing what I had done, I place the switch back in the 'ON' position, but could not get the engine to restart." The pilot attempted to execute a forced landing to a clearing, but the airplane hit two tall trees and became hung up in their branches. The pilot exited the airplane and climbed down to lower branches where rescuers assisted in getting him to the ground. The pilot reported he will change the location of the kill switch when he rebuilds the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 20, 2003, at 1500 central daylight time, an amateur-built Yadon Starflight Stiletto, N42KY, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing into trees after a complete loss of engine power during cruise flight near Peculiar, Kansas. The private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed the Hillside Airport, Stilwell, Kansas, at 1445, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he was in cruise flight when, "the engine stopped running after I inadvertently hit the 'KILL' switch. Realizing what I had done, I place the switch back in the 'ON' position, but could not get the engine to restart." The pilot attempted to execute a forced landing to a clearing, but the airplane hit two tall trees and became hung up in their branches. The pilot exited the airplane and climbed down to lower branches where rescuers assisted in getting him to the ground. The pilot reported he will change the location of the kill switch when he rebuilds the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42KY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42KY-2017-07-07), registration cancelled 2017-07-07, S/N 5033, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Yadon Starflight Stiletto - Registry model: [Yadon Kenneth E STARFLIGHT STILETTO](https://openairdocs.org/model/yadon-kenneth-e-starflight-stiletto) (registry code 05613TW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5033 - Airframe hours: 126 - Engines: Rotax 447 40 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tom Tietze - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 2002, 10 hours before - Departed: 63K, Stilwell, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 220 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 16 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OJC, 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 20030420009509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030420009509A), Apr 20, 2003: Amtr STARSTILETTO, Belton, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) During a flight to drop easter eggs attached to small parachutes, the PIC inadvertently toggled the "kill" switch that stopped the engine. He was unable… 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.