Cliff STARDUSTER II SA300 accident near Placerville, CA
On August 17, 2014, a Cliff STARDUSTER II SA300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Placerville, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 17, 2014
- Place
- Placerville, CA
- Aircraft
- Cliff STARDUSTER II SA300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.800°N, 120.716°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140816X62709
Official records · WPR14FA348
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn August 16, 2014, about 1840 Pacific daylight time, a Starduster Too SA300, N411TM, an experimental biplane, collided with terrain while maneuvering near the Swansboro Country Airport (01CL), Placerville, California. The private pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered and operated by the pilot under provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The cross-country flight originated from Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV), San Jose, California at an unknown time. According to the pilot, he was inbound for landing at the 01CL, where he was planning to be involved in a fly-in. He reported that he initiated a go-around on short final for runway 9 due to gusty crosswind conditions. On climbout, about a 1/4 mile from the departure end of runway 9, the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power. He further reported that he verified all engine control positions and the fuel selector was on the main tank. Despite his actions to regain engine power, he was unable to maintain airspeed and collided with wooded terrain about a mile from 01CL. A witness that has flown out of 01CL for the last 22 years reported that she had invited the pilot of the accident airplane to a fly-in that weekend at the private airport. She spoke with the pilot the day prior to the accident and reviewed airport information with him. She said this was his first time visiting
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 postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to his recent use of m
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
