Pilot Debrief

STIRLING STARDUSTER near Earlham, IA — 2009-08-01

Final reportCEN09LA492
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Date
2009-08-01
Location
Earlham, IA, USA
Airport
PVT
Aircraft
STIRLING STARDUSTER
Registration
N1XY
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground during an aerobatic maneuver.

NTSB narrative

According to a sheriff’s incident report, a witness observed the experimental amateur-built biplane perform a roll and then enter into a loop. The report indicated that, as “the plane was coming out of the loop, it did not have enough altitude and that is when it struck the ground." The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted a field. An examination of the airplane wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the loop maneuver to maintain altitude.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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