- Date
- April 2, 1994, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Baxter Springs, KS
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N107UPRobert O. ELY STARDUSTER-II SA300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940402007479A
- Case key
- 9340
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain altitude during an aerobatic maneuver on takeoff. A factor related to the accident was the pilot performing an aerobatic maneuver.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A witness reported seeing the airplane enter a roll at an altitude of approximately 125 to 150 feet above the ground shortly after takeoff. The witness stated the airplane seemed to come out of the roll but never regained altitude. The post crash inspection found no control anomolies. Metallurgical inspection of aileron control rods revealed no pre-existing cracks.
Factual narrative
History of flight
On April 2, 1994, at 0930 central standard time, a Starduster II SA-300, N107UP, operated as an experimental aircraft by Robert Ely of Baxter Springs, Kansas, impacted terrain 200 yards south of the Baxter Springs Airport and was destroyed. The private pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed.
The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and was on a local maintenance check flight following exhaust system repairs. Immediately after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the airplane was observed rolling inverted and impacting the ground.
Personnel information
Local witnesses reported that the 42 year old private pilot had a history of performing aileron rolls immediately after takeoff and other low level aerobatic maneuvers.
Wreckage and impact information
The airplane impacted in an inverted attitude. Post crash inspection revealed no control system anomalies. A metallurgical examination of aileron control rod fracture surfaces showed overstress type failures, with no indications of fatigue or pre-existing cracks.
Medical and pathological information
Toxicological testing was negative for ethanol and drugs. Suitable samples were not available for Carbon Monoxide and Cyanide. No autopsy was performed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N107UP
- Reported as
- Robert O. ELY STARDUSTER-II SA300 (STARDUSTER)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 107E-FRD
- Engine
- Ford V6, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert O. Ely
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport
- 56K · Baxter Springs, runway 17, 2,860 × 45 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,065 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JLN, 10 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.