# NTSB LAX83LA109: Midget Mustang I, N138X, Bermuda Dunes, CA, February 19, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1983, 14:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place: Bermuda Dunes, CA
- Coordinates: 33.71062, -116.230529 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7106&lon=-116.2305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23620
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23620/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA109

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - procedures/directives - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED ON A ROAD NEAR THE ACTIVE RUNWAY WHILE MAKING A GO-AROUND TO AVOID AN ACFT WHICH TAXIED ON THE RUNWAY AS HE APPROACHED. AT ABOUT 400 FEET AGL ON FINAL APPROACH THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT ACFT REALIZED A SAFE LANDING WAS NOTPOSSIBLE. HE STALLED HIS ACFT ADDED POWER AND REGAINED SOME CONTROL BUT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. HE THEN TURNED TO THE LEFTAND LANDED ON A STREET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N138X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N138X-1990-08-22), registration cancelled 1990-08-22, S/N TMP003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MIDGET MUSTANG I
- Registry model: [Paplia Tony & Winell MIDGET MUSTANG I](https://openairdocs.org/model/paplia-tony-winell-midget-mustang-i) (registry code 1690358) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: TMP003
- Airframe hours: 32
- Engines: LYCOMING 11 reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Tony M. Paplia
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 1982, 32 hours before
- Departed: L66, CORONA, CA
- Airport: UDD, Bermuda, runway 29, 3,500 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 2,646 total, 25 in this make and model, 2,033 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TRM, 9 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 19830219004429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830219004429A), Feb 19, 1983: Amtrbb MUSTANGMIDGT, Bermuda Dunes, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft stalled and crashed when pilot attempted go around after another aircraft pulled out on runway.

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.