# NTSB DEN03LA055: Mohr Starduster Too, N3696, Espanola, NM, March 23, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 23, 2003, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Espanola, NM - Coordinates: 36, -106.099998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0000&lon=-106.1000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 56697 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56697/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA055 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper inflight planning in that he failed to consult the airplane flight manual, his use of incorrect fuel consumption figures, and fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the loss of the en route chart, the unavailability of a nav/comm radio, the pilot becoming lost/disoriented, and the berm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - en route charts - not available (contributing factor) - communications equipment - not available (contributing factor) - navigation receiver - not available (contributing factor) - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - flight manuals - not used, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - incorrect, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was ferrying the airplane to its new owner. He stopped en route and refueled the airplane with approximately 18 gallons of fuel. This filled the tank to capacity. He "stuck" (or dipsticked) the tank "to determine fuel capacity and figured it must be close to what we were told (30 gallons). Apparently, it doesn't hold quite that much." After takeoff, he lost sight of the airplane he had been following. He elected to continue the flight. The airplane was not equipped with a navigation or communication radio. During this leg of the flight, the navigation chart blew out of the open cockpit. The pilot said he thought he could remember where he was going, but misidentified a landmark and crossed the mountains south of where he thought he was. As he circled a town to reorient himself, the engine lost power "due to fuel exhaustion." The airplane had been aloft 2 hours, 20 minutes. The pilot made a forced landing on a golf course, which he described as "unsuitable terrain." During the landing, the airplane struck an earth berm that tore off the landing gear. The lower right wing tip on the biplane was crushed and the propeller was bent. ## Factual narrative On March 23, 2003, approximately 1300 mountain standard time, a Mohr Starduster Too, N3696, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing at Espanola, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and a student pilot-passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the ferry flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Sterling, Colorado, approximately 1100. The following is based on a telephone conversation with the pilot and the accident report he submitted. The pilot was ferrying the airplane to its new owner in Taos, New Mexico. He stopped in La Junta, Colorado, and refueled the airplane with approximately 18 gallons of fuel. This filled the tank to capacity. He also "stuck" (or dipsticked) the tank "to determine fuel capacity and figured it must be close to what we were told (30 gallons). Apparently, it doesn't hold quite that much." After departing La Junta, they lost sight of the airplane they had been following. He elected to continue the flight. The airplane was not equipped with a navigation or communication radio. During this leg of the flight, the navigation chart blew out of the open cockpit. The pilot said he thought he could remember where he was going, but misidentified a landmark and crossed the mountains south of where he thought he was. As he circled Espanola to reorient himself, the engine lost power "due to fuel exhaustion." The airplane had been aloft 2 hours, 20 minutes. The pilot made a forced landing on a golf course, which he described as "unsuitable terrain." During the landing, the airplane struck an earth berm that tore off the landing gear. The lower right wing tip on the biplane was crushed and the propeller was bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3696](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3696), registered now, S/N LM-2 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mohr Starduster Too - Registry model: [Mohr STARDUSTER TOO](https://openairdocs.org/model/mohr-starduster-too) (registry code 8660318) (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: LM2 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: LHX, La Junta, CO - Destination: SKX, Taos, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 4, 2003; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,800 total, 2,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: SAF, 25 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 20030323002889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030323002889A), Mar 23, 2003: Amtr STARDUSTER2, Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) Interviewed Mr. Norman steward by telephone on 03/23/03. The flight originated in lajunta, CO. Destination was taos, NM. Mr. Steward stated as 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.