# NTSB DEN81FTE01: Starduster SA-30, N3843, Brighton, CO, October 4, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 4, 1980
- Place: Brighton, CO · BRIGHTON, CO
- Location: 39.9657° N, 104.7941° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brighton, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9657&lon=-104.7941&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 22, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128619
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE01
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE01

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2772   80/10/4 NR.BRIGHTON,CO        STARDUSTER SA-30    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1030                    N3843               PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  44, 17500 TOTAL HOURS, 50
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         BRIGHTON,CO                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: BUZZING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3843 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: STARDUSTER SA-30
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19801004045609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801004045609A), Oct 4, 1980: Amtrso STARDUSTER2, Brighton, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft observed diving into ground. No cause could be determined.

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.

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