Amateur-built STARDUSTER accident near Ranger, Texas, May 23, 2009
On May 23, 2009 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built STARDUSTER, registered N42WT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Ranger, Texas (Ranger Municipal 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 inability to maintain directional control due to the buckling of the right landing gear as a result of corrosion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2009 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ranger, Texas · Ranger Municipal 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
- N42WT · no longer on the register · serial 949
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll from a grass/turf runway, the homebuilt bi-wing airplane made a sharp right turn. The pilot applied rudder and aileron controls, however the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway and one of the right wing tips impacted a mesquite tree. Moments later, the right wing tips impacted the ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the airplane's right landing gear leg revealed that it had buckled near the wheel, in an area that appeared to be corroded. The runway's surface was reportedly "rough.”
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
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 25,140 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 25, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-290 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KXBP Bridgeport TX
- Destination: F23 Ranger TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 2,730 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N42WT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.