Sunday, October 23, 2022

Stolp SA-300 Starduster Too, N160JR: Accident occurred October 23, 2022 in Lordstown, Trumbull County, Ohio



The investigation continues into Sunday afternoon’s plane crash that injured a father and son in Lordstown.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a Stolp SA-300 Starduster Too experimental aircraft experienced mechanical failure and crashed along Carson Salt Springs Road in Lordstown just after 2 p.m.

Both on-duty and off-duty Lordstown firefighters were joined by those from the Newton Falls Joint Fire Departments after flames engulfed the plane.

The pilot, 55-year-old Gerald Rhinehart Jr. of Lordstown, and his passenger, 26-year-old Benjamin Rhinehart were taken to Mercy Health in Youngstown for treatment of injuries.

Carson Salt Springs Road was closed during the investigation but has since re-opened.




LORDSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers were on the scene of a plane crash around 2:15 p.m. Sunday.

It happened on the 400 block of Salt Springs Road in Lordstown.

911 Caller: “Our neighbor has a plane and he crashed it”

911 Dispatcher: “Has what?”

911 Caller: “Has a plane. Our neighbor has a plane and he crashed it”

According to OSHP Sgt. Erik Golias, both the people in the plane were taken to Saint Elizabeth Hospital.

The plane took off from the 500 block of Salt Springs Road when it experienced mechanical failure, hit the pasture, slid into the fence and caught fire.

According to the family of the pilot, the pilot, 55-year-old Gerald Rhinehart Jr., and his son, 26-year-old Benjamin Rhinehart, both jumped out of the plane.

The plane is a Stolp SA-300 Starduster Too experimental aircraft that seats two people.

It’s the third reported plane crash across the state this week.

28 comments:

  1. Good that occupants got out before fire destroyed the plane .

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  2. I am from the area .. I don't believe there is an airfield at that address -_-

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    1. Crashed a short distance from the home strip. The bent uprights of the neighbors driveway entry frame match to these StreetViews::

      https://goo.gl/maps/TibsUPokhZ24dmBy5
      https://goo.gl/maps/eGWfnQaNhiiubGpN9

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  3. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N160JR

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  4. Glad both are OK, seems this plane was like a baby to it's owner. He made a pretty cool RC version of the accident aircraft. Link to a picture of the accident aircraft: https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2036240&d=1412044049

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  5. ugh, super glad they got out of the plane quickly with no serious injuries, but it always breaks my heart seeing a plane like that destroyed... I had no idea what a Starduster Too was, but once I looked it up my heart sank seeing what a great looking plane it was, and knowing how much time was put into building it. I mean, when you hear about a common certified production plane destroyed, it's sad too, it was someone's pride and joy, but an experimental kit plane that someone took who knows how long to build piece by piece... yeah, that hurts especially bad, especially one as nice as this plane.

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    1. Spectacular craftsmanship example was lost, but not without a good run in the completed work. Same name builder/owner since 1995 and in news report, so he did enjoy the bird for those 27 years. Hope they both recover fully.

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    2. And what makes you think they are ok with no serious injuries after a crash such as this?

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    3. According to the family/friends it seems the two did unfortunately have some serious injuries. Glad they made it out

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    4. Yes, very serious. Not sure what made anyone think someone could be involved in such a traumatic accident and not incur serious, life threatening injuries!

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    5. When you read the report text KR included that specifically says they had non life threatening injuries having both jumped out of the plane after the crash, it gives the reader the impression that they did not incur life threatening injuries.

      Hoping their jumping out did not include receiving burn injuries, the cruel circumstance of many survivable crashes with burnt airframe aftermath photos like these.

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    6. No one JUMPED out!! Seriously?!! An impossible feat to say the least. This shows the negligence of poor reporting.

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    7. Maybe the injuries were from a jump to clear some burning fuel. One foot on the seat, the other on the cockpit rim, then push off hard and jump as far out as you can go. Jump is good reporting after all: they wouldn't have "hopped out" and they weren't "extricated by emergency personnel".

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    8. Their injuries occurred because of the impact not because of jumping from the aircraft. Jump is NOT good reporting when they said they "jumped BEFORE impact". And one had to be removed by emergency means, so again, where are you getting your info?

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  6. Airstrip location 511 Salt Springs Road:

    https://www.google.com/maps/@41.162294,-80.8157824,879m/data=!3m1!1e3

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  7. https://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/1164.htm

    Very nice airplane. Sad to see one go but human life is priceless so that's all that matters here.

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    1. That links to N1011Z, not the accident aircraft. Maybe you just wanted to present info on the type, but the actual photo from an earlier comment post is so much better, here it is again:
      https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2036240&d=1412044049

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  8. some background on the STARDUSTER "In 1965 when it first flew," @ https://www.kitplanes.com/starduster-retrospective/
    "Engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (Reciprocating) Horsepower: 180"
    @ the Lycoming site: Lycoming’s extremely popular four-cylinder 360 engine combines rugged reliability with smooth performance, producing 145 to 210 hp. Since 1955, certified 360 cubic inch engines from Lycoming have been installed in thousands of aircraft.
    and ditto the apparent "Spectacular craftsmanship"

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  9. Why no update to Kathryn's since 24- October

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  10. Same here … curious minds want to know.

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  11. Every now and then the blog goes to sleep for awhile. It might just be a matter of someone having other things to do for a period of time. Maybe it’s just me….but I have zero clue as to who runs this page😜

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    1. Yes, who is this mysterious "Kathryn" anyway? As long as it's not some guy living in his mom's basement, I'll keep checking for updates!

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  12. perhaps other aviation blogs will have a clue. this is my main and only news source and I hope it returns soon. please post here if something is known. If donations are needed or other form of support, readers would probably help.

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  13. Another source of aviation accidents is Aviation Safety Network:

    https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/dblist.php?Year=2022&sorteer=datekey&page=40

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    1. There is also the aviation accidents guy on Facebook

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  14. I see people were asking for an update. Both are both okay and working on recovery. The injuries were worse than reported but should be back to normal in the next few months. Still not sure what went wrong with the plane yet exactly, but it seemed it was some kind of mechanical failure/malfunction with the flight control surfaces. Pilot did everything he could to bring it back to the private airstrip, but the malfunction greatly worsened and sent the plane down. The passenger got out amidst the flames and injuries and worked on getting the pilot out while neighbors and family rushed to the scene. It is a shame that the plane was destroyed, but glad those two are okay! Attached is a link with a photo of this beautiful aircraft:

    https://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled/Stolp-SA-300-Starduster-Too/1163766



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