N42WT – HOLSCLAW FRANCIS E STARDUSTER – 2009-05-23 NTSB Accident Report

On May 23, 2009, a Holsclaw Francis E STARDUSTER (N42WT) was involved in an incident near Ranger, TX. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inability to maintain directional control due to the buckling of the right landing gear as a result of corrosion.

During the take-off roll from a grass/turf runway, the homebuilt bi-wing airplane made a sharp right turn. The pilot applied rudder and ailerons controls; however, the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway and one of the right wing tips impacted a mesquite tree. Moments later, the right wing tips impacted the ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the airplane's right landing gear leg revealed that it had buckled, near the wheel, in an area that appeared corroded. The runway's surface was reportedly "rough.”

This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN09CA315. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N42WT.