Amateur-built STARDUSTER II and Cessna C152 II accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, May 24, 1990
On May 24, 1990 at about 9:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built STARDUSTER II (N85RC) and Cessna C152 II (N2927X), were involved in the same accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Speedway airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DURING GROUND TAXI OPERATIONS. THE NATURAL NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE OF THE TAILDRAGGER RESTRICTED THE PILOT'S FORWARD VISIBILTIY, AND WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
THE OTHER PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DURING GROUND TAXI OPERATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1990 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Speedway · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built STARDUSTER II STARDUSTER
- Registration
- N85RC · registry record · serial 815
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna C152 II
- Registration
- N2927X · no longer on the register · serial 15284251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built STARDUSTER II final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE (CONVENTIONAL GEAR) BIPLANE REPORTED THAT HE LOOKED FOR TRAFFIC ON THE TAXIWAY BEFORE TAXIING TO REPOSITION HIS AIRCRAFT ON THE AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT HE 'DID NOT SEE ANY AIRCRAFT IN VIEW....PROCEEDED TO TAXI AND SAW THE WING OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT OVER MY NOSE.... 'THE TAXIING AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE CESSNA C152, WHICH WAS PARKED ON THE RAMP WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING IN PREPARATION FOR A LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE OF THE TAILDRAGGER RESTRICTED THE TAXIING PILOT'S VISIBILITY.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna C152 II final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE (CONVENTIONAL GEAR) BIPLANE REPORTED THAT HE LOOKED FOR TRAFFIC ON THE TAXIWAY BEFORE TAXIING TO REPOSITION HIS AIRCRAFT ON THE AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT HE 'DID NOT SEE ANY AIRCRAFT IN VIEW....PROCEEDED TO TAXI AND SAW THE WING OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT OVER MY NOSE....'THE TAXIING AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE CESSNA C152, WHICH WAS PARKED ON THE RAMP WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING IN PREPARATION FOR A LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE OF THE TAILDRAGGER RESTRICTED THE TAXIING PILOT'S VISIBILITY.
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 for the amateur-built STARDUSTER II from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 38 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 143 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 28, 1990; 39 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna C152 II from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 295 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 4, 1990; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Indiana Bellanca, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.