# NTSB FTW89DRD16: Sours/Midget Mustang SM-1, N2AT, Franklinton, LA, September 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1989, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Franklinton, LA
- Coordinates: 30.840826, -90.139144 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8408&lon=-90.1391&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22737
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89DRD16
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22737/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89DRD16

## Probable cause

A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WERE A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & WAS VECTORED TO AN AIRPORT. JUST BEFORE TURNING BASE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND CRASHED. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE POWER LOSS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2AT-1995-08-07), registration cancelled 1995-08-07, S/N 0001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOURS/MIDGET MUSTANG SM-1
- Registry model: [Sours MIDGET MUSTANG SM-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/sours-midget-mustang-sm-1) (registry code 1690316) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: SM-001
- Airframe hours: 609
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Clifford Grabowski
- Registered owner: Clifford T Grabowski
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, August 14, 1989, 10 hours before
- Departed: NEW, NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Destination: GTR, COLUMBUS, MS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 2R7, Franklinton, runway 31, 3,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 920 total, 200 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NEW, 48 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 19890923035959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890923035959A), Sep 23, 1989: Amtrbb MUSTANG2, Franklinton, LA, Destroyed. Engine ran rough,backfired and quit. Crash landed short of emergency airport into trees. No oil in engine post crash

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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