# NTSB ERA24LA202: Stephen R Kunkle Mustang II, N1855M, Philadelphia, PA, April 28, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 28, 2024, 14:58 local (18:58 UTC) - Place: Philadelphia, PA · On airport surface at PNE - Coordinates: 40.081938, -75.010578 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0819&lon=-75.0106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194191 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194191/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194191 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA202 ## Probable cause A loss of directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stephen R Kunkle MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05632MD), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Stephen R Kunkle MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05632MD), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Stephen R Kunkle MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05632MD), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Stephen R Kunkle MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05632MD), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Stephen R Kunkle MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05632MD), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the conclusion of an uneventful local flight, the pilot was preparing to land the airplane. During the landing approach, the air traffic control tower advised of the wind conditions, which were a 60-degree left quartering headwind at 9 knots, gusting to 12 knots. The pilot described that he landed the airplane straight and on the centerline of the runway. The pilot reported that shortly after touching down, the airplane veered left and then ground looped to the right. During the accident sequence the left main landing gear collapsed, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, and the left wing impacted the ground substantially damaging it. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1855M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1855M-2025-06-23), registration cancelled 2025-06-23, S/N SRK2013, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEPHEN R KUNKLE MUSTANG II - Registry model: [Stephen R Kunkle MUSTANG II](https://openairdocs.org/model/stephen-r-kunkle-mustang-ii) (registry code 05632MD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320-B1C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-b1c) (registry code 41909, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: SRK2013 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 592.4 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 11, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PNE, Northeast Philadelphia, runway 24, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 657.8 total, 295.7 in this make and model, 542.9 as pilot in command, 13.6 in the last 90 days, 3.4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: PNE - METAR: KPNE 281854Z VRB05KT 10SM CLR 25/15 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP192 T02500150 ## 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 20240428004789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240428004789A), Apr 28, 2024: Stephen R Kunkle MUSTANG II, Philadelphia, PA, Substantial damage. The pilot landed his experimental amatuer built conventional tailwheel aircraft on runway 24 at pne. During the rollout, the PIC had difficulty controlling the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194191. 7.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17752773&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20rev%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17752516&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20N1855M-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. --- 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.