# NTSB DEN02LA009: Esbenshade Starduster Too SA300, N6925, Evans, CO, November 10, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 10, 2001, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Evans, CO - Coordinates: 40.355834, -104.757774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3558&lon=-104.7578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53756 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53756/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA009 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance of the wires. A contributing factor was the trees the airplane struck while the pilot was attempting to regain aircraft control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The pilot said that he descended from 6,500 feet mean sea level for a "scenic flight" along the river (elevation 4,671 feet). He struck a wire and during the subsequent recovery attempt, he impacted several trees. All four wings were bent, the engine separated from its mounts, and the fuselage was wrinkled. ## Factual narrative On November 10, 2001, at approximately 1200 mountain standard time, an Esbenshade Starduster Too SA300 homebuilt airplane, N6925, was destroyed when it impacted a transmission wire, and subsequently struck several trees near Evans, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that originated approximately 20 minutes prior to the accident, and was en route to Boulder, Colorado. The pilot did not file a flight plan. The pilot said that he descended from 6,500 feet mean sea level for a "scenic flight" along the river (elevation 4,671 feet). He struck a wire and during the subsequent recovery attempt, he impacted several trees. All four wings were bent, the engine separated from its mounts, and the fuselage was wrinkled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6925](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6925-2002-05-06), registration cancelled 2002-05-06, S/N E-1, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Esbenshade Starduster Too SA300 - Registry model: [Esbenshade J M STARDUSTER TOO SA300](https://openairdocs.org/model/esbenshade-j-m-starduster-too-sa300) (registry code 8660391) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: E-1 - Airframe hours: 309 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert J. Bauer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2001, 42 hours before - Departed: GXY, Greeley, CO - Destination: 1V5, Boulder, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 12, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 425 total, 60 in this make and model, 381 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: GXY, 8 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 20011110031039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011110031039A), Nov 10, 2001: Greeley, CO, No damage. (-23) The pilot descended from altitude and started a scenic flight over the platte river. He hit some unmarked wires over the platte river. He landed on the… 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.