# NTSB DEN06CA030: Appel Mustang II, N747MD, Erie, CO, January 6, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 6, 2006, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Erie, CO
- Coordinates: 40.009998, -105.048332
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0100&lon=-105.0483&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63058
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06CA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63058/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06CA030

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate preflight decision to depart in gusty winds, and the pilot's failure to maintain direction control during the departure roll. The high gusty crosswind contributed to the accident.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - ground
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The pilot said he was attempting to depart from runway 33 when he encountered a gust of wind. The airplane veered to the left and departed the runway. The nose wheel got stuck in the soft dirt and the airplane nosed over, causing substantial damage. The winds were reported as 300 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 30 knots.

## Factual narrative

The pilot said he was attempting to depart from runway 33 when he encountered a gust of wind. The airplane veered to the left and departed the runway. The nose wheel stuck in the soft dirt and the airplane nosed over. The cowling was torn off, the firewall was wrinkled, the canopy and "roll bar" were bent and broken, the vertical stabilizer was crushed down 90 degrees at midspan, and the right wing tip was bent up.

According to the METAR (routine aviation weather report) taken at Jefferson County Airport, 7 nautical miles southwest of the accident location, winds were reported as 300 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 30 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N747MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N747MD-2006-05-31), registration cancelled 2006-05-31, S/N 71-1, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Appel Mustang II
- Registry model: [Appel MUSTANG II](https://openairdocs.org/model/appel-mustang-ii) (registry code 16901RA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 71-1
- Airframe hours: 831
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2005
- Departed: 48V, Erie, CO
- Destination: SAF, SANTA FE, NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 48V, Tri-County, runway 33, 4,700 × 60 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 464 total, 21 in this make and model, 368 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 5 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: BJC, 7 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 20060106000319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060106000319A), Jan 6, 2006: Amtr MUSTANG2, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) While departing Tri-County Airport (48V) on runway 33, pilot encountered strong gust of wind causing loss of control and aircraft departing left side of…

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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