Nov. 24, Marion, Texas / Staros SA 260

At 15:55 CST, an amateur-built Staros SA 260 aerobatic airplane was destroyed when a fire erupted in-flight. The pilot was seriously injured after a low-altitude bail-out. The pilot told witnesses that he was at the top of an aerobatic maneuver, heard a loud bang and the airplane entered a slip. The pilot stated that fuel began to spray onto him. Witnesses reported that the pilot bailed out of the single engine airplane at approximately 400 feet agl and the parachute opened at tree-top level. An inspector found that the parachute and pilots apparel, including his sunglasses and gloves, were charred and melted.