Amateur-built STARDUSTER accident near Roanoke, Virginia, September 23, 1987
On September 23, 1987 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built STARDUSTER, registered N36GP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roanoke, Virginia (Woodrum Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1987 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Virginia · Woodrum Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STARDUSTER
- Registration
- N36GP · registry record · serial SB1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WENT ON AN ORIENTATION FLT IN THE HOME BUILT STARDUSTER. DRG THE LNDG, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN AT ABOUT 40 MPH. THE PLT STATED THAT AS IT SLOWED TO ABOUT 25 MPH, THE 'RIGHT BRAKE OR SOMETHING LOCKED, PLANE PULLED HARD RIGHT, THEN UP ON NOSE & OVER ON BACK.' HE BELIEVED THAT 'NO ONE WAS USING BRAKES.' HOWEVER, NO MALFUNCTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS FND DRG THE INVESTIGATION. THE ACFT HAD A TOTAL FLT TIME OF 512 HRS. THE PLT HAD ONLY 2 HRS OF FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 512 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1987; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,802 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.