Low-Altitude Maneuvering · NTSB WPR09LA026
SILFVAST STARDUSTER TOO — Cedar Fort, UT
| Date | October 28, 2008 |
| Location | Cedar Fort, UT |
| Aircraft | SILFVAST STARDUSTER TOO (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Maneuvering-aerobatics Loss of control in flight |
| Pilot age | 62 |
| Pilot total time | 439 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed and/or angle of attack to avoid a stall/spin during an aerobatic maneuver.
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
What happened
Multiple witnesses in the vicinity of the accident site reported observing the accident airplane performing a series of aerobatic maneuvers at a low altitude. The airplane was observed in what the witnesses described as a "flat spin" about 1,000 feet above ground level that continued until ground impact. One witness stated that he heard the engine running until the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane was consumed in a postimpact ground fire and all major components of the airplane were located at the accident site. No anomalies were noted with the airplane flight control system during an examination of the wreckage.