# NTSB LAX94LA190: Bushby Mustang II, N363RD, Byron, CA, April 17, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 16, 1994, 17:15 local (Apr 17, 1994, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Byron, CA
- Coordinates: 37.84925, -121.619285 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8492&lon=-121.6193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28719
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA190
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28719/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA190

## Probable cause

an abrupt maneuver by the pilot that initiated an in-flight separation of the tail and wing sections during acrobatic flight.

## Sequence of events

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

- Abrupt maneuver, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - stabilizer - overload (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT FLYING ABOUT 1000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN THEY HEARD THE ENGINE ACCELERATE FOLLOWED BY AN ABRUPT VERTICAL CLIMB.  THE WINGS THEN SEPARATED AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND.  ALL THE MAJOR AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR EXCEPT THE VERTICAL STABILIZER.  PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE TAIL SECTION INDICATED OVERLOAD-TYPE SEPARATIONS.

## Factual narrative

On April 16, 1994, about 1715 hours Pacific daylight time, the pilot of a Bushby Mustang II, N363RD, lost control after an in-flight breakup and collided with the terrain in a marsh 2 miles east of Byron, California.  The airplane was destroyed.  The certificated private pilot and student pilot passenger were fatally injured.  The flight originated in Livermore, California, at 1630 hours.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  Witnesses reported the airplane in level flight about 1,000 feet above ground level.  The witnesses reported hearing the engine accelerate followed by an abrupt steep vertical climb.  The airplane's wings then separated and the airplane descended uncontrolled and collided with the terrain.

Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported the airplane's wings, canopy, both seats, and the horizontal stabilizer came to rest about 500 yards east of the fuselage.  The inspectors reported they were unable to locate the vertical stabilizer during the on-scene wreckage examination.  The FAA provided photographs (attached) depicting the damage to tail section.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N363RD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N363RD-2013-08-07), registration cancelled 2013-08-07, S/N M-II-363, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BUSHBY MUSTANG II
- Registry model: [Greco BUSHBY MUSTANG II](https://openairdocs.org/model/greco-bushby-mustang-ii) (registry code 1690618) (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: 363
- Airframe hours: 1600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dawson, Richard
- Registered owner: Richard E. Dawson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 1993, 30 hours before
- Departed: LVK, LIVERMORE, CA
- Destination: LVK, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 980 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SCK, 10 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 19940416047519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940416047519A), Apr 16, 1994: Amtrbb MUSTANG2, Byron, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Inflight breakup after an abrupt vertical climb. Wings had separated. Uncontrolled descent to terrain.

## Other investigations on N363RD (1)

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.

- [NTSB ATL81DLA01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81DLA01), Oct 13, 1980: Mustang II (N363RD), Nashville, GA, substantial damage

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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