# NTSB ANC06LA130: McNabb Bushmaster, N5090F, Delta Junction, AK, September 4, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2006, 21:00 local (Sep 4, 2006, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Delta Junction, AK - Coordinates: 64.050552, -145.717224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.0506&lon=-145.7172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 64465 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64465/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA130 ## Probable cause An electrical short that disabled the electronic ignition system of the airplane's engine during the final approach phase for landing, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with high vegetation. A factor contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot to maintain proper altitude in the landing pattern to reach the runway during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - ignition system - shorted (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - high vegetation - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was accumulating flight hours on an experimental airplane for the builder, as part of a Title 14, CFR Part 91 flight test period to comply with the experimental type certificate. The airplane's engine was an automotive, Ford 3.8L, V-6. It was equipped with an electronic ignition system. After 1.25 hours of flight time, the pilot was on final approach for landing, and when he turned on the airplane's landing light, the engine lost power. He was unable to restart the engine and descended into high vegetation, about 200 feet short of the runway. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and landing gear. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. He found an electrical short in the landing light system. The inspector indicated that the electrical short also disabled the electronic ignition system on the engine. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2006, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped amateur built experimental McNabb Javelin Bushmaster airplane, N5090F, sustained substantial damage following a forced landing and collision with terrain, at the Delta Junction Airport, Delta Junction, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The flight originated at the Delta Junction Airport about 1920. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 3, the pilot reported that he was accumulating flight hours on the airplane for the builder, as part of a 40 hour flight test period to comply with an experimental type certificate. The pilot said that after 1.25 hours of flight time, he was on final approach for landing on runway 7. He said that when he turned on the airplane's landing light, the engine lost power. He was unable to restart the engine and descended into high vegetation, about 200 feet short of the runway. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and landing gear. The airplane's engine was an automotive, Ford 3.8L, V-6. It was equipped with an electronic ignition system. An FAA inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), Fairbanks, Alaska, reported that he examined the airplane at the accident site. He found an electrical short in the landing light system. The inspector indicated that the electrical short also disabled the electronic ignition system on the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5090F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5090F-2009-08-31), registration cancelled 2009-08-31, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McNabb Bushmaster - Registry model: [Mcnabb Adam JAVELIN BUSHMASTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcnabb-adam-javelin-bushmaster) (registry code 05621QR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 10 - Engines: Ford 3.8 L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Timothy D. Smithen - Registered owner: Adam McNabb - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2006 - Departed: D66, Delta Junction, AK - Airport: D66, Delta Junction, runway 07, 2,400 × 50 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 10 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 75° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PABI, 10 nm away 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.