# NTSB FTW98LA087: Starduster SA-100, N87SD, Roland, AR, January 4, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 4, 1998, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Roland, AR - Coordinates: 34.889228, -92.519714 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8892&lon=-92.5197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20512 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20512/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent encounter with soft, wet grass during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis After an uneventful 20-minute flight in his tailwheel-equipped biplane, the pilot decided to do a few touch-and-go landings at a private grass airstrip. After a normal touchdown, the aircraft slowed down prematurely. During the end of the landing roll, the two main landing gear tires became bogged down in soft grass, and the aircraft flipped inverted. The pilot stated that he had landed on the runway numerous times before and that he thought that the 'grass looked ok' during his approach. According to local witnesses, it had rained on the day prior to the accident, but not on the day of the accident. ## Factual narrative On January 4, 1998, approximately 1530 central standard time, a homebuilt Starduster SA-100 tail wheel equipped bi-plane, N87SD, registered to and operated by the pilot, flipped over during landing roll on a private grass airstrip (Pecan Grove) near Roland, Arkansas. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot was not injured. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, which originated from North Little Rock, Arkansas, at 1510. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator, the pilot reported that, after an uneventful 20 minute flight from North Little Rock, he decided to do a few touch and go landings at the Pecan Grove Airstrip. The pilot stated that, after a normal touchdown, the aircraft slowed down prematurely. During the end of the landing roll, the two main landing gear tires became bogged down in soft grass, and the aircraft flipped inverted. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed structural damage to the vertical stabilizer, and a cracked spar on the right upper wing. Also, no mechanical anomalies were discovered with the landing gear or braking system. The pilot stated that he had landed on the 3,000 foot grass runway numerous times before and that he thought that the "grass looked ok" during his approach. According to local witnesses, it had rained on the day prior to the accident, but not on the day of the accident. Additionally, the pilot reported that the aircraft had just had an annual inspection performed and that no preexisting anomalies were known to him. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N87SD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87SD), registered now, S/N 1, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Starduster SA-100 - Registry model: [Davis STARDUSTER SA100](https://openairdocs.org/model/davis-starduster-sa100) (registry code 8660414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 650 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary D. Chamberlin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 3, 1998, 1 hours before - Departed: 1M1, N. LITTLE ROCK, AR - Airport: NONE, Pecan Grove Airstrip, runway 18, 3,000 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,164 total, 122 in this make and model, 1,108 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LIT ## 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 19980104046889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980104046889A), Jan 4, 1998: Amtr SA100, Roland, AR, No damage. (-23) Pilot elected to execute "wheel" landing on grass/dirt runway. The weather had been producing rain/drizzle for several days prior to the accident day.… 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.