Bushby MUSTANG II N527JT

Summary

On 11 August 2018 at about 19:30 local time, a Bushby MUSTANG II registered N527JT, operated by Bald Eagle Aviation Llc, was involved in an accident near Akron, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 August 2018 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Akron, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Gebauer (5V6)

Coordinates

40.2425, -103.0961

Aircraft

Bushby MUSTANG II

Registration

N527JT

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Bald Eagle Aviation Llc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

La Veta → Akron

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA486

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper preflight planning that did not identify the unserviceable runway; his subsequent decision to attempt to takeoff from the rough, grassy runway; and his selection of an abort point with insufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a runway overrun.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while flying over the grass runway, it appeared "rough but serviceable." During landing, he found the surface was extremely rough with tall weeds. During the subsequent departure, acceleration was "less than normal" due to the vegetation. When the airplane reached the pilot's planned abort point for the runway, he realized that he had misjudged the abort point. He initially thought his selected abort point was about 800 to 1,000 ft before the end of the runway, but it was about 100 to 200 ft before the end of the runway. The airplane overran the runway, crossed a road, and struck a barbed wire fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Directory for the accident airport, in part, stated: "[Runways] not recommended for [takeoff or landing]."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.