# NTSB FTW89DRG09: Mccormick Bushby Mustang II, N123WP, Spicewood, TX, August 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1989, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Spicewood, TX
- Coordinates: 30.479045, -98.159858 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4790&lon=-98.1599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22745
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89DRG09
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22745/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89DRG09

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - other person
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE FEMALE VICTIM WAS RIDING A GALLUPING HORSE ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY AS THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A SERIES OF TAKE OFFS, LANDINGS, AND TOUCH AND GOES. THIS HAD BEEN ARRANGED BY THE VICTIM FOR A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER TO TAKE PICTURES OF HER, AS SHE AND HER HORSE WERE PASSED BY THE AIRPLANE OVERTAKING HER FROM BEHIND. THE HORSE AND RIDER WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, BETWEEN THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT ON THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH PASS, A 'POPPING SOUND' WAS HEARD AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED. HE 'ASSUMED' THAT INDICATED CONTACT BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE WING AND THE VICTIM'S HEAD. HE ALSO OBSERVED THE RIDER, WHO 'APPEARED TO BE UNCONSCIOUS' FALL OFF OF THE HORSE AS IT CONTINUED TO RUN. THE AIRPORT MANAGER DID NOT SEE THE MISHAP, BUT HEARD A 'LOUD THUMP.' THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S WRITTEN AFFIDAVIT STATED IN PART THAT THE AIRPLANE 'VEERED OFF COURSE AND STRUCK JAMIE WHICH IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N123WP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N123WP), registered now, S/N 195 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCCORMICK BUSHBY MUSTANG II (BUSHBY MUS)
- Registry model: [Mccormick BUSHBY MUSTANG II](https://openairdocs.org/model/mccormick-bushby-mustang-ii) (registry code 1690601) (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: 195
- Airframe hours: 943
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles J. Walters
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 1989, 43 hours before
- Departed: 88R, SPICEWOOD, TX
- Airport: 88R, Austin Air Ranch, runway 17, 3,000 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 11,500 total, 273 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AUS, 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 19890814033279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890814033279A), Aug 14, 1989: Amtrbb MUSTANG2, Spicewood, TX. Struck a lady on horseback. Had been hired to fly parallel to photograph rider, and aircraft hit rider.

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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