Amateur-built STARDUSTER TOO SA300 accident near Woodrow, Colorado, May 21, 2001
On May 21, 2001, a amateur-built STARDUSTER TOO SA300, registered N555CW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodrow, Colorado. 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a precautionary landing on unsuitable terrain which was rough and uneven. Factors were deteriorating weather in the form of freezing rain, snow, and decreasing visibility.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2001
- Place
- Woodrow, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STARDUSTER TOO SA300
- Registration
- N555CW · registry record · serial 1172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a cross-country flight, which had been preceded by a full weather brief by a flight service station, the non-instrument rated pilot flying a non-instrument certificated aircraft encountered rapidly deteriorating weather conditions in the form of freezing rain, snow, and deteriorating visibility. She elected to make a precautionary landing in an open field. The field was rough and uneven, and the aircraft nosed over during landing roll.
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: 675 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 612 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 16, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 678 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 1, 2000; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SYF Saint Francis KS
- Destination: FTG Watkins CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 32 knots, gusting 39
- Visibility: 0.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from AKO, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.