# NTSB CEN13LA536: Sweet Wayne A Bushby Mustang II, N54WS, Woodstock, IL, September 8, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 2013, 17:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place: Woodstock, IL
- Coordinates: 42.356666, -88.506111 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3567&lon=-88.5061&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 5, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88004
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA536
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88004/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88004
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA536

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Findings

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

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Sweet Wayne A BUSHBY MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1690483), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sweet Wayne A BUSHBY MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1690483), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Sweet Wayne A BUSHBY MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1690483), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Sweet Wayne A BUSHBY MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1690483), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While at an altitude of 2,200 feet above ground level, the engine began to lose partial power. The pilot attempted to regain engine power by switching the fuel selector to the auxiliary or header tank; however, the engine subsequently lost total power. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted vegetation and came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed that the right wing fuel tank was empty and left wing fuel tank contained some fuel. The auxiliary or header fuel tank was full of fuel. Examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was functionally tested on the airframe. During the functional test, the engine started and operated without any anomalies noted. It is likely that the pilot was feeding fuel to the engine from a wing tank and did not switch to the auxiliary tank in time before the engine lost power.

## Factual narrative

On September 8, 2013, approximately 1750 central daylight time, a Sweet Bushby Mustang II airplane, N54WS, impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Woodstock, Illinois. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed Council Bluffs, Iowa, approximately 1630 and was destined for Grayslake, Illinois. According to local authorities who spoke with the pilot, while at an altitude of 2,200 feet above ground level, the engine began to lose partial power. The pilot attempted to regain engine power by switching the fuel selector to the auxiliary or header tank; however, the engine subsequently lost total power. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted vegetation and came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector showed that the right wing fuel tank was empty and left wing fuel tank contained some fuel. The auxiliary or header fuel tank was full of fuel. The inspector removed the fuel line from the fuel manifold and activated the fuel pump. Fuel flowed from the fuel line when the fuel pump was activated. The airplane was recovered for further examination. Under supervision of a FAA inspector, the engine was functionally tested on the airframe utilizing the auxiliary fuel tank. During the functional test, the engine started and operated without any anomalies noted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54WS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54WS-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N WS-1, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEET WAYNE A BUSHBY MUSTANG II
- Registry model: [Sweet Wayne A BUSHBY MUSTANG II](https://openairdocs.org/model/sweet-wayne-a-bushby-mustang-ii) (registry code 1690483) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: WS-1
- Airframe hours: 1483
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: On File
- Registered owner: On File
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2013
- Departed: CBF, Council Bluffs, IA
- Destination: C81, Grayslake, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 9, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 957 total, 36 in this make and model, 855 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg

## 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 20130908018219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130908018219A), Sep 8, 2013: Sweet Wayne A BUSHBY MUSTANG II, Woodstock, IL, Substantial damage. N54WS was enroute from council bluff airport (kcbf), Iowa to grayslake / campbell, IL (KC81) at an altitude of 2200 feet MSL. The pilot stated that the engine…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88004. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401406&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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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