# NTSB WPR21LA031: Pearson Starduster, N768P, Cedar City, UT, October 29, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 29, 2020, 12:49 local (18:49 UTC)
- Place: Cedar City, UT · CDC Airport
- Coordinates: 37.700972, -113.09886 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7010&lon=-113.0989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102217
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102217/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102217
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA031

## Probable cause

A loss of directional control for reasons that were not determined due to lack of available evidence.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pearson STARDUSTER SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8660265), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Pearson STARDUSTER SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=8660265), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Pearson STARDUSTER SA300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8660265), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, shortly after touch down, he lost directional effectiveness and the airplane veered right. The pilot applied full left rudder input, but the airplane exited the runway, and nosed over. The rudder was substantially damaged. The pilot reported “Maybe” as to if there was a mechanical malfunction with the airplane and stated to “pay attention for seized main wheel bearings. The interconnect spring between the rudder pedals.” The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he had visually looked at the interconnect spring 3 days before the accident flight and reported no anomalies. The pilot did not respond to further inquiries after the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N768P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N768P-2022-11-29), registration cancelled 2022-11-29, S/N 191, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Pearson Starduster (SA-300)
- Registry model: [Pearson STARDUSTER SA300](https://openairdocs.org/model/pearson-starduster-sa300) (registry code 8660265) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-435](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-435) (registry code 41516, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 191
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 440.5
- Engines: Lycoming O-435-1 175 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Condition, February 4, 2020, 7.6 hours before
- Departed: KBVU, Boulder City, NV
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CDC, Cedar City Regional Airport, runway 26, 4,822 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,507 total, 49 in this make and model, 3,736 as pilot in command, 4,815 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observed at: KCDC, 1 nm away
- METAR: KCDC 291853Z AUTO 35003KT 10SM CLR 14/M08 A3032 RMK AO2 SLP246 T01391078

## 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 20201029015859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201029015859A), Oct 29, 2020: Pearson STARDUSTER SA300, Cedar City, UT, Substantial damage. According to the pilot, on approach, the tail began falling through from a two-point landing to a three-point landing at less than 60 miles per hour. As my…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102217. 3.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11626765&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20031_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12588147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Records%20031-Rel.pdf
- Email correspondence between FAA inspector and accident pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 519 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12588157&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20from%20Accident%20Pilot%20to%20FAA%20Inspector%20Regarding%20Visual%20Inpsection%20of%20Interconnect%20Spring_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Email to accident pilot requesting interconnect spring information (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12588533&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20to%20Accident%20Pilot%20Regarding%20Interconnect%20Spring_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photo (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11627093&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20031-Rel.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.

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