Amateur-built Starduster accident near Cedar City, Utah, October 29, 2020
On October 29, 2020 at about 6:49 pm local time, a 1977 amateur-built Starduster, registered N768P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Cedar City, Utah (Cedar City Regional Airport). It was a positioning 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
A loss of directional control for reasons that were not determined due to lack of available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2020 · about 6:49 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar City, Utah · Cedar City Regional Airport · 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, built 1977
- Registration
- N768P · no longer on the register · serial 191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, shortly after touch down, he lost directional effectiveness and the airplane veered right. The pilot applied full left rudder input, but the airplane exited the runway, and nosed over. The rudder was substantially damaged. The pilot reported “Maybe” as to if there was a mechanical malfunction with the airplane and stated to “pay attention for seized main wheel bearings. The interconnect spring between the rudder pedals.” The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he had visually looked at the interconnect spring 3 days before the accident flight and reported no anomalies. The pilot did not respond to further inquiries after the accident.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,507 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 4,815 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,736 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 440.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 4, 2020; 7.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,704 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435-1 (piston); 170 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBVU Boulder City NV at 6:19 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 4,822 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KCDC, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCDC 291853Z AUTO 35003KT 10SM CLR 14/M08 A3032 RMK AO2 SLP246 T01391078
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2021. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Email Correspondence Between FAA Inspector and Accident Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Email to Accident Pilot Requesting Interconnect Spring Information | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Photo | 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.