# Accident 19980912023709A: Amtrbb MUSTANG2, Taft, CA, September 12, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 1998, 15:35 local time
- Place: Taft, CA
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1609° N, 119.4297° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1609&lon=-119.4297&mi=10
- Aircraft: N10AW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10AW-2000-12-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Weber-Mustang II DIAMOND (registry code 16901CE, https://openairdocs.org/model/weber-mustang-ii-diamond) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTRBB MUSTANG2
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total, 100 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA290) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980912023709A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL ON THE SOUTH-FACING RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT WINGTIP IMPACTED THE BUSHES AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED LEFT INTO THE BRUSH OFF THE RUNWAY.  THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM APPROXIMATELY 090 DEGREES AT 7 KNOTS.  THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT PR IOR TO THE ACCIDENT.                                                       (-23) A HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT, WEBER-MUSTANG II, N10AW RAN OFF A NARROW AND UNEVEN PRIVATE AIRSTRIP RUNWAY, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES SOUTH OF THE TAFT/KERN AIRPORT, TAFT CA. ON TAKE OFF ROLL THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT, CONTACTING HIGH BRUSH, PULLING IT OFF THE EAST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT FIXED LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED UPON IMPACTING ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN. THE RIGHT WING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DISTORTED AND WRINKLED WITH POSSIBLE SPARE DAMAGE. THE BOTTOM FUSELAGE AND WING SURFACES MAY HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BOTTOM SURFACES COULD NOT BE CONDUCTED AT THE CRASH SITE, BECAUSE OF AIRCRAFT POSITION RELATIVE TO THE TERRAIN. THE PROPELLE R WAS UNDER POWER AS IT CAME TO A FULL STOP.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA290), Sep 12, 1998: Weber-Mustang II Diamond (N10AW), Taft, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain proper runway alignment during the takeoff roll.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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