Amateur-built Starduster accident near Byhalia, Mississippi, October 12, 2018
On October 12, 2018 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1991 amateur-built Starduster, registered N503CM, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Byhalia, Mississippi (Maidment Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path, which resulted a collision with trees short of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2018 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Byhalia, Mississippi · Maidment Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Starduster, built 1991
- Registration
- N503CM · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that he was practicing landings. He departed and flew over a nearby town and noted that the air was "quite turbulent." Upon returning to the airport, the pilot entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and began a constant-radius, descending turn to the final leg of the traffic pattern. He noticed that the airplane was too low and applied engine power to maintain level flight. The airplane leveled off, and the pilot continued the approach to the runway. The pilot added that, as the airplane approached a tree line, which was about 100 ft before the approach end of the runway, the airplane "suddenly sank" and impacted trees before he could arrest the descent. The airplane came to rest inverted in a wooded area. The wings, fuselage, and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Given the evidence, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain a proper approach path, which resulted in the impact with trees. Examination of upper air sounding data revealed that no turbulence nor low-level wind shear existed in the area at the time of the accident. A review of meteorological data revealed that the wind conditions had the potential to develop into a 1-knot tailwind. However, the pilot should have been able to anticipate and adequately respond to the slight tailwind.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Roll over during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 331 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 292 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 24, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 264 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 3, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HO-360-B1B (piston); 958 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7MS3 Byhalia MS at 6:15 pm
- Destination: 7MS3 Byhalia MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from OLV, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 29, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Observations | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Crosswind Component Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N503CM 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.