# NTSB ERA09LA501: Keithley Thomas E Starduster Too, N26TK, St. Matthews, SC, September 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 7, 2009, 19:16 local (23:16 UTC) - Place: St. Matthews, SC - Coordinates: 33.666667, -80.783332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6667&lon=-80.7833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74663 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA501 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74663/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74663 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA501 ## Probable cause A loss of airplane control during approach for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Keithley Thomas E STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=86603AT), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Keithley Thomas E STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=86603AT), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Keithley Thomas E STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=86603AT), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Keithley Thomas E STARDUSTER TOO SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=86603AT), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to a witness, while on final approach at 200 to 300 feet above ground level, the nose of the airplane suddenly pitched up as if in a climbing right turn. Shortly thereafter, the airplane's right wing dipped and the airplane made a sharp 180 degree turn, followed by the sound of an impact. The airplane sustained substantial damage as a result of the postcrash fire. Neither flight control continuity nor engine continuity could be confirmed due to the postcrash fire. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2009, at 1916 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Keithley Starduster TOO SA300, N26TK, registered to Aeroscene Incorporated, went out of control and crashed in Saint Matthews, South Carolina. The certificated private pilot and passenger were killed and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated from a private grass airstrip in Saint Matthews, South Carolina, at about 1900. According to a witness, the pilot was giving rides to his friends. The pilot had given three to four short airplane rides to different people. Each flight lasted approximately 5 to 10 minutes and followed the same routine. On the final flight, all appeared normal, including the sound of the engine. The pilot initiated a crosswind turn at midfield and flew a left hand pattern, to land on a 130 degree heading towards a hangar. The witness continued to say that the airplane turned downwind, base, and final. The airplane's transition from base to final was smooth. On final, the airplane was at a good angle, with a controlled decent. While on final at 200 to 300 feet above ground level, the nose of the airplane suddenly pitched up and to the right, "like a climbing right turn." The airplane's right wing dipped and the airplane made a sharp 180 degree turn, followed by the sound of an impact. Witnesses attempted to extinguish the flames but were unsuccessful. The police and fire departments arrived on the scene, and the witnesses were directed to leave. The pilot, age 47, had a private pilot certificate, with airplane single-engine land ratings. In addition, he held a third-class medical certificate issued on September 14, 2006, with a restriction that he must have available glasses for near vision. The pilot's most recent medical certificate indicated that he had accumulated 300 hours of flight time. The pilot's logbook was not recovered for examination. The two-seat, bi-wing, fixed gear tail-wheel airplane, serial number 1745, was certificated in 1982. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320, 180-hp engine. According to a friend of the pilot, the aircraft's logbooks were in the airplane at the time of the accident. The friend further stated that the airplane's total time was about 435 hours. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found that the wood and fabric airframe had struck several trees before impacting the ground. The wreckage came to rest against a tree where a post-crash fire totally consumed the airplane. Examination of the engine found both magnetos, the fuel pump, and the fuel servo melted. Throttle and mixture cables were in place. All flight control rods and cables were damaged from the impact, and all control attachment hardware was in place.Examination of the propeller found light bending at the tips and no leading edge damage or scoring. An autopsy was performed on the pilot on September 9, 2009, by Newberry Pathology Associates, P.A., in Newberry, South Carolina. The autopsy findings included, “Smoke and fume inhalation.” Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report indicated that no carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol or drugs were detected in blood and urine samples. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26TK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26TK-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 1745, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Keithley Thomas E Starduster Too (SA300) - Registry model: [Keithley Thomas E STARDUSTER TOO SA300](https://openairdocs.org/model/keithley-thomas-e-starduster-too-sa300) (registry code 86603AT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1745 - Airframe hours: 435 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: St. Matthews, SC - Destination: PVT, St. Matthews, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: OGB, 13 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 20090907049019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090907049019A), Sep 7, 2009: Keithley Th STARDUSTER, Saint Matthews, SC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. On September 7, 2009, at 19:16 eastern standard time, a thomas e Keithley Starduster too /SA-300 aircraft N26TK registered to aeroscene inc. operated as a 14… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74663. 179 KB in all. - Reports from Federal Agencies; FAA Inspectors Statement. (item 1, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies;%20FAA%20Inspectors%20Statement.-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 2, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342042&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF 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.