- Date
- March 7, 2020, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place
- Senoia, GA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N529FMStolp Starduster Acroduster II SA750
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 29, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA / FSDO
- FAA report
- 20200307002329A
- Case key
- 101081
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 see and avoid trees while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, while performing aerial stunts for a local children's party, the airplane struck a tree, and he then lost control of the airplane. He maneuvered the airplane over a street, and it struck another tree and then impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. A Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who examined the airplane after the accident confirmed flight control continuity and reported no anomalies with the flight controls.
Factual narrative
According to local law enforcement, the pilot reported that, while performing aerial stunts for a local children's party. The airplane struck a tree and he lost control of the airplane. He was able to maneuver the airplane across the street before striking another tree and impacting terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings and the empennage. A Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who examined the airplane after the accident confirmed flight control continuity and reported no anomalies with the flight controls.The pilot did not submit an NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report or any other statement describing the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N529FM
- Reported as
- Stolp Starduster Acroduster II SA750 (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 302
- Built
- 1998
- Engine
- Lycoming IO360 SER A&C, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 64GA · Senoia, GA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 64GA · Big 'T'
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
- 62
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.45 inHg
- Observed at
- FFC, 5 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 17, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 658 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.