# NTSB FTW90DRD06: Stolt Acroduster II, N63BD, Alexandria, LA, April 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1990, 08:31 local (13:31 UTC)
- Place: Alexandria, LA
- Coordinates: 31.330686, -92.410774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3307&lon=-92.4108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22983
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90DRD06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22983/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DRD06

## Probable cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE LANDING FLARE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS DISSIPATING AIRSPEED OVER THE RUNWAY, IN THE OPEN COCKPIT BIPLANE. HE SAID HIS HELMET SLIPPED BACK ON HIS HEAD AND DURING HIS ATTEMPT TO READJUST IT, THE LEFT WING CAME UP AND DURING HIS CORRECTION, THE PROPELLER STARTED HITTING THE RUNWAY. HE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, FLEW FURTHER DOWN THE RUNWAY AND LANDED. HE SAID HIS NEXT TOUCHDOWN WAS SMOOTH BUT THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE STARTED SLIDDING ON THE RUNWAY. A FIRE STARTED AND AS THE PILOT EVACUATED THE AIRPLANE, HE WAS BURNED ON THE FACE AND HANDS. AFTER HE MOVED AWAY FROM THE AIRPLANE, MORE FIRE ERUPTED IN THE AIRPLANE. LATER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SPREAD OUT AND THE FUSELAGE BOTTOM HIT THE RUNWAY ON THE FIRST IMPACT. FIRE STARTED WITH FUEL FROM A BROKEN FUEL STRAINER VALVE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63BD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63BD-1990-10-29), registration cancelled 1990-10-29, S/N JDW86 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STOLT ACRODUSTER II (ACRODUSTER)
- Registry model: [Wade Joseph D ACRODUSTER II SA750](https://openairdocs.org/model/wade-joseph-d-acroduster-ii-sa750) (registry code 8660546) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: JDW-86
- Airframe hours: 72
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Unk
- Registered owner: Edwards, William K
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 20, 1990, 10 hours before
- Departed: ESF
- Airport: ESF, Esler Reg., runway 8, 5,999 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,000 total, 3 in this make and model, 6,650 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ESF

## 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 19900418010189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900418010189A), Apr 18, 1990: Amtrso ACRODUSTER2, Alexandria, LA, Destroyed. Hard landing. Hit prop,collapsed gear and burned. Reported distracted during level off.

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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