# NTSB WPR11CA341: Cliff Starduster II SA300, N411TM, San Jose, CA, July 19, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 19, 2011, 09:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.329849, -121.770393 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3298&lon=-121.7704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81175 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA341 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81175/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81175 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA341 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to not follow the designated taxiway, and failure to maintain clearance from a sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cliff STARDUSTER II SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8660257), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cliff STARDUSTER II SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=8660257), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cliff STARDUSTER II SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=8660257), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cliff STARDUSTER II SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8660257), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cliff STARDUSTER II SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8660257), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the landing roll, as the pilot approached the end of the runway, he decided to cut the corner from the runway to the taxiway. He said the airplane collided with a sign that he did not see. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the underside of the right wing, and the lower right wing spars were broken and separated. He said that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was making his final landing of the night and had just touched down. During the landing roll as he approached the end of runway 31R, he decided to cut the corner from the runway to the taxiway and substantially damaged the underside of his right wing when the airplane collided with a sign. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions of failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The damage included broken and separated lower right wing spars. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N411TM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N411TM-2018-03-14), registration cancelled 2018-03-14, S/N 1, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CLIFF STARDUSTER II SA300 - Registry model: [Cliff STARDUSTER II SA300](https://openairdocs.org/model/cliff-starduster-ii-sa300) (registry code 8660257) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 629 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Nieland Richard H - Registered owner: Nieland Richard H - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 2010, 70 hours before - Departed: KRHV, SAN JOSE, CA - Destination: KRHV, SAN JOSE, CA - Airport: KRHV, Reid Hillview, runway 31R, 3,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 320 total, 70 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F ## 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 20110719017219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110719017219A), Jul 19, 2011: Cliff STARDUSTER II SA300, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he had landed at reid hillview airprt (krhv), on runway 31 right. After landing the aircraft turned off the runway at taxiway echo. The pilot… ## Other investigations on N411TM (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR14FA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA348), Aug 17, 2014: Cliff Starduster II SA300 (N411TM), Placerville, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around in gusting wind conditions following a partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, because… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81175. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Damage to the lower right aileron. Airport operations (item 2, .PDF, 300 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Damage%20to%20the%20lower%20right%20aileron.%20Airport%20operations-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Damage to trailing edge. Airport operations (item 3, .PDF, 327 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Damage%20to%20trailing%20edge.%20Airport%20operations-Master.PDF - Picture 3. Lower right wing upper skin. Airport operator (item 4, .PDF, 257 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Picture%203.%20Lower%20right%20wing%20upper%20skin.%20Airport%20operator-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Damage to the lower right wing. Airport operations (item 5, .PDF, 275 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Damage%20to%20the%20lower%20right%20wing.%20Airport%20operations-Master.PDF - Correspondence from NTSB Aerospace Engineer (item 6, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20from%20NTSB%20Aerospace%20Engineer-Master.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.