Amateur-built PRO-STAR II accident near Sanford, Maine, July 12, 1994
On July 12, 1994 at about 11:15 am local time, a amateur-built PRO-STAR II, registered N43579, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sanford, Maine (Sanford Municipal Airport). It was an instructional 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 AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1994 · about 11:15 am local time
- Place
- Sanford, Maine · Sanford Municipal Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PRO-STAR II PRO-STAR I
- Registration
- N43579 · no longer on the register · serial 1162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 32. HE STATED THAT 'THE GROUND RUN TOOK A LITTLE FARTHER THAN NORMAL.' HE ALSO SAID THE RATE OF CLIMB WAS LESS THAN NORMAL. HE ELECTED TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE AIRPORT. HE SAID, '[WHILE MAKING] A SHALLOW TURN TO LAND ON THE AIRPORT, IT STALLED AND SPUN INTO THE GROUND.' THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A STALL WARNING SYSTEM.
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: student
- Flight time: 82 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 106 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 1993; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA-81 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.