Giles MUSTANG II N91061

Summary

On 8 August 2004 at about 17:30 local time, a Giles MUSTANG II registered N91061 was involved in an accident near Rainelle, West Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 August 2004 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Rainelle, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Rainelle Airport (WV30)

Coordinates

37.8581, -80.3994

Aircraft

Giles MUSTANG II

Registration

N91061

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rainelle → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD04LA035

1 person was seriously injured.

The partial loss of engine power due to a broken throttle mechanism, which resulted in a forced landing over unsuitable terrain

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the homebuilt airplane reduced power on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to initiate a low approach to the runway. The airplane was on final approach when the pilot attempted to add power to maintain his desired glide path. When he pushed the throttle lever forward, there was no response from the engine. Remedial actions by the pilot failed to restore control of the engine. During the subsequent forced landing to a field, the engine continued to run at the reduced power setting. On short final to the field, he noticed a dead tree with no foliage in his path, but determined that his altitude and airspeed were too low to maneuver around it. The airplane struck the tree, contacted the ground, spun around, and came to rest facing opposite the direction of travel. Examination of the throttle control after the accident revealed a separation of the throttle cable outer sheath and the inner throttle cable. When forward movement was applied to the throttle control, the inner cable bowed, and did not transfer forward motion to the throttle arm.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.