Accident Summary
On February 24, 2025, at 1430 central standard time, a Starduster II airplane, registration N78WT, was destroyed when it collided with terrain near Azle, Texas. The private pilot and a passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight Details
According to the pilot, he had flown the airplane earlier that day and planned to operate in the airport traffic pattern at the time of the accident. The takeoff was normal. During the turn from downwind to base leg for runway 15, the airplane became sluggish and began sinking. The left wing dropped sharply, which the pilot attributed to a tip stall. He applied right aileron and right rudder to correct, causing the wing to rise momentarily before dropping again. The airplane was not equipped with a stall warning system. The pilot advanced the engine throttle but perceived no response; he stated he was not monitoring the engine tachometer because his attention was focused on the airport. The airplane descended and struck terrain. A postcrash fire ensued, destroying the aircraft.
Examination
The airplane was retained for further examination. No additional details regarding the examination were provided.