Amateur-built STARDUSTER SA 300 accident near Whiteville, North Carolina, July 12, 2015
On July 12, 2015 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1975 amateur-built STARDUSTER SA 300, registered N5618, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Whiteville, North Carolina (Columbus County Muni 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 failure to maintain directional control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion and a collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2015 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Whiteville, North Carolina · Columbus County Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STARDUSTER SA 300 NO SERIES, built 1975
- Registration
- N5618 · registry record · serial 887
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing, the airplane bounced "significantly" and he added power to go-around. During the go-around, the pilot reported that he bounced again because he was "slow to get the nose up." Subsequently, the airplane veered to the right, departed the runway, and came to rest in the grass next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 18.2 in the last 90 days; 9.6 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 280 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,704 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-470-L (piston); 280 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: None Delco NC at 9:30 pm
- Destination: CPC Whiteville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from KCPC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 9, 2015. 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 | Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 – Overview of Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.