- Date
- July 11, 1998, 05:15 local (11:15 UTC)
- Place
- Hillsdale, WY
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N121GDOverton Mustang M-II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report February 15, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980711025059A
- Case key
- 43164
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and his failure to maintain adequate clearance from obstacles. Factors were an intentional low altitude flight maneuver, wires, and low light conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said he heard a 'slight hesitation or miss' in the engine and increased power slightly. The engine gauges registered normal and the engine seemed to 'smooth out.' He sighted a road below and descended to assess its suitability for a possible forced landing in case the engine lost power. He felt the airplane strike something and shudder, then heard a loud rumbling noise. The airplane struck wires that crossed the road, impacted the roadway, then collided with a bridge.
Factual narrative
On July 11, 1998, approximately 0515 mountain daylight time, N121GD, an Overton Mustang M-II, was destroyed when it collided with wires and impacted terrain near Hillsdale, Wyoming. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Erie, Colorado, approximately 0440.
In a telephone interview from his hospital bed, the pilot said the engine began to "miss" and "run rough." He sighted a road below and descended to assess its suitability for an emergency landing. The airplane struck wires that crossed the road, impacted the roadway, then collided with a bridge.
In his accident report, the pilot said the flight was to be a local personal flight "with no particular destination in mind." He heard a "slight hesitation or miss" in the engine and increased power slightly. The engine gauges registered normal and the engine seemed to "smooth out." He descended to survey a road "as a possible landing spot in case of an engine failure." He felt the airplane strike something and shudder, then heard a loud rumbling noise. The airplane then struck the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N121GD
- Reported as
- Overton Mustang M-II (MUSTANG M-)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- MII-1217
- Airframe hours
- 250
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gaylon D. Overton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 1997 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- 48V · Erie, CO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 475 total · 250 in this make and model · 450 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CYS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.