# NTSB LAX04CA013: Cleveland Orson Starduster II SA-300, N379C, Stockton, CA, October 14, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 13, 2003, 17:00 local (Oct 14, 2003, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Stockton, CA
- Coordinates: 37.894165, -121.238334
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8942&lon=-121.2383&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58142
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58142/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA013

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate visual lookout resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from the parked airplane.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - aircraft parked/standing
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The Starduster collided with a parked and unoccupied Piper, while taxiing into a parking spot.  While attempting to line the Starduster up with the parking line, the pilot was looking off the left wing.  The right interplane-strut of the Starduster collided with the Piper's nose spinner.  The propeller of the Starduster then made contact with the other airplane's right wing.  The pilot noted no mechanical problems with his airplane.

## Factual narrative

On October 13, 2003, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Cleveland Orson Starduster II SA300 biplane, N379C, collided with a parked and unoccupied Piper PA28-235, N8908W, while taxiing from landing at Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK), Stockton, California.  The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The personal cross-country flight departed Sacramento Executive Airport  (SAC), Sacramento, California, about 1630, en route to Stockton Metropolitan.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that after a successful landing, he taxied to the Stockton Jet Service Ramp.  While turning into a parking space, he collided with an unseen airplane.

In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that he was sitting in the rear cockpit, which is appropriate for solo flight.  After locating a parking spot, he was looking out to left of the airplane to position it over the parking line.  The Starduster's right wing collided with the Piper's nose spinner.  The propeller on the Starduster then made contact with the Piper's right wing.  The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N379C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N379C-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 502, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cleveland Orson Starduster II SA-300
- Registry model: [Cleveland Orson STARDUSTER SA-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/cleveland-orson-starduster-sa-300) (registry code 8660294) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 502
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 Series reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward Farmer
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: SAC, Sacramento Exec, CA
- Destination: SCK, Stockton, CA
- Airport: SCK, Stockton Metropolitan

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 2,500 total, 35 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20031013031119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031013031119A), Oct 13, 2003: Amtr SA300, Stockton, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 1700 PST, on 13 oct 2003, after landing on 29L, sck, Mr. Farmer taxied his aircraft into another aircraft that was tied down on the ramp…

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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