# NTSB ATL04LA019: Spegele Mustang II, N262CS, Calhoun, GA, October 16, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 16, 2003, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Calhoun, GA - Coordinates: 34.456665, -84.933891 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4567&lon=-84.9339&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58210 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58210/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA019 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent landing gear collapse. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - landing gear - overload ## Analysis After takeoff the pilot remained in the traffic pattern for runway 17. The airplane was on final approach at a speed of 80 knots. According to witnesses, the airplane appeared to have developed a high sink rate as it approached touchdown. The pilot stated the airplane touched down at 70 knots. The landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded on the fuselage. The airplane came to rest in the grass 50 feet off the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the right wheel and axle broken off the gear leg, both main gears collapsed, dents on the bottom of the fuselage and bottom of the wings, the composite propeller blades broken, damage to the nose cone and sheet metal damaged to the tail end of fuselage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On October 16, 2003, at 1145 eastern daylight time, a Spegele, Mustang II experimental airplane, N262CS, registered to and operated by the private pilot, landing gear collapsed during an attempted landing on runway 17 at the Tom B. David Airport in Calhoun, Georgia. The personal flight operated under the provisions of title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. The flight departed Calhoun, Georgia, at 1125, on October 16, 2003. According to the pilot, after takeoff he remained in the traffic pattern for runway 17. The pilot reported that the airplane was established on final approach at a speed of 80 knots. According to witnesses, the airplane appeared to have developed a high sink rate as it approached touchdown. The pilot stated the airplane touched down at 70 knots. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded on the fuselage. The airplane came to rest in the grass 50 feet off the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the right wheel and axle broken off the gear leg, both main gears collapsed, dents on the bottom of the fuselage and bottom of the wings, the radiator below the cowl destroyed, the composite propeller blades broken, damage to the nose cone and sheet metal damaged to the tail end of fuselage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N262CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N262CS-2006-08-01), registration cancelled 2006-08-01, S/N 1977, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Spegele Mustang II - Registry model: [Spegele Charles G MUSTANG II](https://openairdocs.org/model/spegele-charles-g-mustang-ii) (registry code 05614G4) (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: 1977 - Airframe hours: 5 - Engines: Chevrolet 4.3 Liter 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles G. Spegele - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2003, 5 hours before - Departed: CZL, Calhoun, GA - Airport: KCZL, Tom B. David Field, runway 17, 5,010 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 27, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 195 total, 2 in this make and model, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 37 nm away ## 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 20031016024919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031016024919A), Oct 16, 2003: Amtr MUSTANG2, Calhoun, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) Second test flight-approach approximately 70K-upon landing left main gear collapsed, right gear subsequently collapsed. Aircraft skidded on fuselage,… 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.