# NTSB FTW90FA138: Mingess-Bennett M30, N97RJ, New Braunfels, TX, July 7, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 1990, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: New Braunfels, TX - Coordinates: 29.699697, -98.109298 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6997&lon=-98.1093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 23027 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23027/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA138 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN THE OVERTAKING AIRCRAFT (N97RJ) TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE AIRCRAFT THAT HAD BEEN LEADING (N911HG). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF ABILITY FOR THE PILOT IN THE LEAD AIRCRAFT (911HG) TO BE ABLE SEE OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE RACE, AND SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE FOR BOTH PILOTS TO MANEUVER THEIR AIRCRAFT IN AN EFFORT TO GET A WINNING ADVANTAGE. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN THE OVERTAKING AIRCRAFT (N97RJ) TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE AIRCRAFT THAT HAD BEEN LEADING (N911HG). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF ABILITY FOR THE PILOT IN THE LEAD AIRCRAFT (N911HG) TO BE ABLE SEE OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE RACE, AND SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE FOR BOTH PILOTS TO MANEUVER THEIR AIRCRAFT IN AN EFFORT TO GET A WINNING ADVANTAGE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual lookout - not attained, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - self-induced pressure, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual lookout - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - self-induced pressure, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) DURING AN AIR RACE INVOLVING SEVEN FORMULA-ONE AIRCRAFT, TWO OF THE PLANES COLLIDED DURING A TURN AROUND A PYLON. ONE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS A MINGESS-BENNETT M30, N97RJ; THE OTHER WAS A CASSUIT 11M, N911HG. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OF N911HG, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE LEAD WITH THE OTHER PLANES CLOSING. A VIDEO TAPE SHOWED THAT N97RJ WAS DESCENDING & ACCELERATING IN THE TURN. N97RJ LEVELED BEFORE IMPACT, BUT ITS PROP (THEN ITS LEFT WING) HIT THE RIGHT WING OF N911HG. N97RJ THEN WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED, BUT N911HG WAS LANDED SUCCESSFULLY WITH ITS RIGHT WING & AILERON DAMAGED. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) DURING AN AIR RACE INVOLVING SEVEN FORMULA-ONE AIRCRAFT, TWO OF THE PLANES COLLIDED DURING A TURN AROUND A PYLON. ONE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS A MINGESS-BENNETT M30, N97RJ; THE OTHER WAS A CASSUIT 11M, N911HG. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OF N911HG, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE LEAD WITH THE OTHER PLANES CLOSING. A VIDEO TAPE SHOWED THAT N97RJ WAS DESCENDING & ACCELERATING IN THE TURN. N97RJ LEVELED BEFORE IMPACT, BUT ITS PROP (THEN ITS LEFT WING) HIT THE RIGHT WING OF N911HG. N97RJ THEN WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED, BUT N911HG WAS LANDED SUCCESSFULLY WITH ITS RIGHT WING & AILERON DAMAGED. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N97RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97RJ-1991-04-10), registration cancelled 1991-04-10, S/N 1838 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MINGESS-BENNETT M30 - Registry model: [Minges SPECIAL M-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/minges-special-m-30) (registry code 05611DV) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1838 - Airframe hours: 135 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Jones, Henry W. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 6, 1990, 1 hours before - Departed: 3R5 - Destination: 3R5 - Airport: 3RS, New Braundels ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N911HG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N911HG), registered now, S/N 2A, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CASSUIT 11M - Registry model: [Bert-Cassutt IIM](https://openairdocs.org/model/bert-cassutt-iim) (registry code 19704BM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2A - Airframe hours: 589 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Gibson, Robert L. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 1990, 54 hours before - Departed: 3R5 - Destination: 3R5 - Airport: 3RS, New Braundels, runway 17, 5,370 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N97RJ; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,171 total, 135 in this make and model, 10,171 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N911HG; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 4,880 total, 320 in this make and model, 4,700 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RND, 12 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19900707024622A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900707024622A), Jul 7, 1990: Amtr M30AMTR, New Braunfels, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Overtook and collided with wing of N911HG while descending in a race and turning a pylon. Crashed out of control. - [Accident 19900707024621A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900707024621A), Jul 7, 1990: Amtrsx CASSUTT2, New Braunfels, TX, Substantial damage. Right wing was struck by N97RJ that descended on a race pylon turn and had over taken his aircraft. Landed safely. 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.