# NTSB CEN09LA512: Hooper James A Bushby MUS, N37JD, Gladwin, MI, August 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2009, 15:55 local (19:55 UTC) - Place: Gladwin, MI - Coordinates: 43.970554, -84.474998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9706&lon=-84.4750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74490 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA512 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74490/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74490 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA512 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hooper James A BUSHBY MUSTANG MMII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1690649), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hooper James A BUSHBY MUSTANG MMII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1690649), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hooper James A BUSHBY MUSTANG MMII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1690649), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Hooper James A BUSHBY MUSTANG MMII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1690649), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hooper James A BUSHBY MUSTANG MMII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1690649), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After completing a 16-hour shift at work, the pilot flew the airplane for a local flight. Radar data showed the airplane depart to the north and execute a series of maneuvers approximately 25 miles north of the departure airport before radar contact was lost. A witness who was flying his own airplane observed the accident airplane and attempted to communicate via radio; however, no communication was established. The accident site was located in heavily wooded terrain and the airplane came to rest in a nose-down attitude, approximately 2 miles south-southwest of the last radar target. There was no postimpact fire. Examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed no anomalies to the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicological tests were positive for unspecified levels of ephedrine, fluconazole, and pseudoephedrine, and none of the drugs are typically regarded as impairing. The pilot was likely fatigued, though the investigation was unable to establish that the pilot's fatigue played a role in the accident. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 7, 2009, approximately 1555 eastern daylight time, a Hooper Bushby Mustang MMII experimental airplane, N37JD, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering near Gladwin, Michigan. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed the Jack Barstow Airport (3BS), Midland, Michigan, at 1540. According to radar data, the airplane departed 3BS from runway 06 and made a left turn to the north. The airplane continued north and made a series of 5 turns to the north and south between 2,500 and 2,700 feet mean sea level (msl). The airplane then made a turn to the south back toward 3BS and radar contact was lost. A witness reported observing a small red and silver airplane flying 4 to 5 miles southwest of the Gladwin Zettel Memorial Airport, Gladwin, Michigan. The witness, who was flying his own airplane at the time, attempted to contact the red and silver airplane via radio; however, there was no response or communication from the airplane. There were no other witnesses that observed the accident airplane. On the morning of August 8, 2009, the airplane was reported missing to local authorities by family members. A search was initiated and the airplane was located in wooded terrain at 1530, approximately 2 miles south-southwest of the last radar target. During an interview with the pilot's wife, which was conducted by local authorities, she reported the pilot was going to go flying after work on the day of the accident. The pilot had worked a 16-hour shift which began at 2200 on August 6th and ended approximately 1500 on August 7th. The pilot had no health problems and the wife did not think the pilot fell asleep in the airplane. According to the interview statement, she stated, "...he was a very careful pilot and if he was tired, he wouldn't have gone up [flying]." PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 52, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument ratings. The pilot was issued a third class medical certificate on April 10, 2008. A review of the pilot's logbook showed that as of July 8, 2009, the pilot had accumulated 594.2 total hours, and 113.7 hours in the accident airplane. In the last eight flights listed in the logbook, the pilot noted in the logbook remarks section that he was conducting lazy 8s, chandelles, and steep turn maneuvers. The pilot's most recent flight review was completed on November 11, 2008. The logbook showed the pilot's first flight in the accident airplane occurred on March 20, 2007. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The 1989 Hooper Bushby Mustang MMII, serial number 502, was a low-wing, conventional gear, experimental amateur-built airplane that was owned and operated by the pilot. The airplane was powered by a four-cylinder Lycoming IO-320-B1Aengine, rated at 160 horsepower, and equipped with a two-bladed propeller. The airplane was configured to carry two occupants and equipped with dual controls. A review of the airplane logbooks showed the airframe and engine underwent a conditional inspection on March 25, 2009, at a tachometer time of 523.5 hours. The engine logbook showed the engine had accumulated 2,453.5 total hours and 581.5 hours since major overhaul. According to fueling records obtained from 3BS, the airplane was fueled with 13.9 gallons of fuel on August 2nd. No other fuel records were located. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1553, the Houghton Lake (HTL) automated weather observing system, located approximately 24 nautical miles north of the accident site, reported the wind from 190 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 21 degrees Celsius, dew point 10 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.17 inches of Mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site. An examination of the accident site revealed the airplane impacted terrain in a nose low attitude. The wreckage distribution was confined to an area approximately 100 feet in diameter. All major components and flight control surfaces of the airplane were located at the accident site. No evidence of fuel was noted at the accident site. The airplane was recovered for further examination. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was conducted on the pilot by the Gladwin County Medical Examiner pathologist on August 9, 2009. The cause of death was listed as trauma related to an airplane accident. Specimens were retained for toxicological analysis by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute's (CAMI) Forensic and Accident Research Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Toxicological tests for the pilot were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and alcohol. Unspecified levels of ephedrine, fluconazole, and pseudoephedrine were detected in the blood and urine. TEST AND RESEARCH On August 18th, under the supervision of the FAA, the airplane was examined. The forward fuselage was crushed aft and destroyed. The instrument panel and instruments were destroyed; however, the RPM gauge showed 1,900 RPM; the airspeed indicator showed 50 knots; and the attitude indicator glass and display was destroyed. The leading edge of both wings was crushed aft. The empennage was buckled and stabilizers' surfaces were wrinkled. Flight control continuity was confirmed to all flight control surfaces. The engine was separated from the airframe and displayed deposits of earthen debris around the crankcase and cylinders. The propeller hub remained attached to the crankshaft and both propeller blades were splintered and broken. The propeller spinner was crushed around the propeller hub. Examination of the airplane by FAA inspectors revealed no anomalies to the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N37JD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37JD-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N 502, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HOOPER JAMES A BUSHBY MUS - Registry model: [Hooper James A BUSHBY MUSTANG MMII](https://openairdocs.org/model/hooper-james-a-bushby-mustang-mmii) (registry code 1690649) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 502 - Airframe hours: 524 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Winchell Bradley V - Registered owner: Winchell Bradley V - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 25, 2009 - Departed: 3BS, Midland, MI - Destination: 3BS, Midland, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 29, 2008; toxicology performed; flight hours: 594 total, 114 in this make and model, 509 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: HTL, 24 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 20090807048639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090807048639A), Aug 7, 2009: Hooper Jame BUSHBY MUST, Gladwin, MI, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Pilot departed from jack barstow (3BS) at midland Michigan at about 3:30 pm. Aircraft flew north of Gladwin, Michigan and made some turns and returned south… ## Docket (14 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74490. 5.4 MB in all. - Radar Data (item 1, .TXT, 6 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325856&FileExtension=.txt&FileName=Radar%20Data-Master.txt - Flight Track (item 2, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Track-Master.PDF - Profile of Flight Track (Google Earth) (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Profile%20of%20Flight%20Track%20(Google%20Earth)-Master.PDF - End of Flight Track (Google Earth) (item 4, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=End%20of%20Flight%20Track%20(Google%20Earth)-Master.PDF - Police Report (item 5, .PDF, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Pilots Logbook Excerpt (item 6, .PDF, 721 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325875&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilots%20Logbook%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Logbook Excerpt (item 7, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325868&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbook%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF - Engine Logbook Excerpt (item 8, .PDF, 306 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325869&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 9, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325870&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 Overview of Accident Site (item 10, .PDF, 304 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20Overview%20of%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo 2 Overview of Airplane Wreckage after recovery (item 11, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20Overview%20of%20Airplane%20Wreckage%20after%20recovery-Master.PDF - Photo 3 View of Right Wing (item 12, .PDF, 998 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20View%20of%20Right%20Wing-Master.PDF - Photo 4 View of Left Wing (item 13, .PDF, 956 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325876&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20View%20of%20Left%20Wing-Master.PDF - Photo 5 View of Engine and Propeller (item 14, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20View%20of%20Engine%20and%20Propeller-Master.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. --- 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.