Amateur-built STARDUSTER accident near San Antonio, Texas, March 2, 2009
On March 2, 2009 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built STARDUSTER, registered N2262D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near San Antonio, Texas (Kesler Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control during take off. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind component.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2009 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · Kesler Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STARDUSTER
- Registration
- N2262D · registry record · serial 1510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on takeoff roll for runway 30 when he reported a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right side of the runway. The pilot's attempts to correct were unsuccessful. As the airplane left the runway it veered to the right and down a sloped embankment. The pilot was still attempting to regain directional control but the airplane became airborne and stalled, contacting the ground with the right wing and collapsing the right main landing gear. The airplane then cartwheeled on the right wing and came to rest upright. The pilot was able to exit the airplane normally and was not injured. Substantial damage was confirmed to the right wings and right main landing gear. Winds reported from the nearest weather observation facility 17 miles to the south were 180 degrees at 8 knots gusting to 15 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during takeoff
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience w/ equipment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,601 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 3,601 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 28, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 527 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 14, 2008; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rcs Aeronautical INC
The flight
- Departed from: 1T7 San Antonio TX at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 1T7 San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 30, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KSAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.