McCormick BUSHBY MUSTANG II N123WP

Summary

On 14 August 1989 at about 13:45 local time, a McCormick BUSHBY MUSTANG II registered N123WP was involved in an incident near Spicewood, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 August 1989 at 13:45

Classification

Incident

Location

Spicewood, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Austin Air Ranch (88R)

Coordinates

30.4790, -98.1599

Aircraft

McCormick BUSHBY MUSTANG II

Registration

N123WP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Spicewood → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW89DRG09

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FEMALE VICTIM WAS RIDING A GALLUPING HORSE ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY AS THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A SERIES OF TAKE OFFS, LANDINGS, AND TOUCH AND GOES. THIS HAD BEEN ARRANGED BY THE VICTIM FOR A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER TO TAKE PICTURES OF HER, AS SHE AND HER HORSE WERE PASSED BY THE AIRPLANE OVERTAKING HER FROM BEHIND. THE HORSE AND RIDER WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, BETWEEN THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT ON THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH PASS, A 'POPPING SOUND' WAS HEARD AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED. HE 'ASSUMED' THAT INDICATED CONTACT BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE WING AND THE VICTIM'S HEAD. HE ALSO OBSERVED THE RIDER, WHO 'APPEARED TO BE UNCONSCIOUS' FALL OFF OF THE HORSE AS IT CONTINUED TO RUN. THE AIRPORT MANAGER DID NOT SEE THE MISHAP, BUT HEARD A 'LOUD THUMP.' THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S WRITTEN AFFIDAVIT STATED IN PART THAT THE AIRPLANE 'VEERED OFF COURSE AND STRUCK JAMIE WHICH IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.