# NTSB ANC25LA031: Lawrence M Zubel Loehle 5151 Mustang, N579LZ, Vernal, UT, October 2, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 2, 2024, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Vernal, UT
- Coordinates: 40.442349, -109.51299
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4423&lon=-109.5130&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199974/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199974
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA031

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing which result in the left landing gear collapsing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Lawrence M Zubel LOEHLE 5151 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05639EI), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lawrence M Zubel LOEHLE 5151 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05639EI), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Lawrence M Zubel LOEHLE 5151 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05639EI), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Lawrence M Zubel LOEHLE 5151 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05639EI), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane “bounced”, and he attempted to abort the landing and go-around. During the attempted go-around, the pilot was unable to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. The airplane subsequently landed hard, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N579LZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N579LZ-2025-04-28), registration cancelled 2025-04-28, S/N LMZ-001, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LAWRENCE M ZUBEL LOEHLE 5151 MUSTANG
- Registry model: [Lawrence M Zubel LOEHLE 5151 MUSTANG](https://openairdocs.org/model/lawrence-m-zubel-loehle-5151-mustang) (registry code 05639EI) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI-99](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi-99) (registry code 55561, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: LMZ-001
- Year built: 2020
- Airframe hours: 1
- Engines: ROTAX 582DCDI-99 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Condition, July 8, 2024, 1 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: VEL, Vernal Regional, runway 17, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 1,253 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,184 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 57.5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 80 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20241002021649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241002021649A), Oct 2, 2024: Lawrence M Zubel LOEHLE 5151 MUSTANG, Vernal, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot in command performed flight test of aircraft: departure from runway 17, made a circuit of the pattern, and stable approach. During touchdown the aircraft…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199974. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18636735&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA031%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 517 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18635934&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA031%20photos-Rel.pdf

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.

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