Amateur-built STARDUSTER SA300 accident near San Luis Obispo, California, March 19, 2014
On March 19, 2014 at about 9:20 pm local time, a amateur-built STARDUSTER SA300, registered N490B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near San Luis Obispo, California (San Luis County Rgnl 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 inadequate flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent loss of aircraft control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2014 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · San Luis County Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STARDUSTER SA300 NO SERIES
- Registration
- N490B · registry record · serial 1994
- 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 touchdown in the tailwheel equipped airplane, it bounced once, and as the airplane main landing gear made contact with the runway, the right landing gear strut collapsed. The pilot lost directional control and the airplane ground looped. The fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact 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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,575 hours in all; 2,172 in this make and model; 9,705 as pilot in command; 5,541 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 14, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,213 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 18, 2014; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,940 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER (piston); 4,085 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBP San Luis Obispo CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: SBP San Luis Obispo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 6,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KSBP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.