# NTSB LAX98LA290: Weber-Mustang II Diamond, N10AW, Taft, CA, September 12, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 12, 1998, 15:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place: Taft, CA
- Coordinates: 35.16085, -119.429748 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1609&lon=-119.4297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 1999
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 43957
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA290
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43957/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA290

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain proper runway alignment during the takeoff roll.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - crosswind
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - high vegetation
- Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on the south-facing runway, the aircraft drifted off to the left side of the runway.  The left wingtip impacted the bushes and the aircraft swerved left into the brush off the runway.  The landing gear collapsed.  The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from approximately 090 degrees at 7 knots.  The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

On September 12, 1998, at 1535 hours Pacific daylight time, a Weber-Mustang II Diamond, N10AW, ground looped on takeoff at a private airstrip 5 miles east of the Taft-Kern County Airport, Taft, California.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage.  The commercial pilot and passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured.  The personal flight was originating at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported that he was taking off on the south-facing runway.  During the takeoff roll, the aircraft drifted off to the left side of the runway.  The left wingtip impacted the bushes and the aircraft swerved left into the brush off the runway.  The landing gear collapsed.  The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from approximately 090 degrees at 7 knots.  The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N10AW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10AW-2000-12-07), registration cancelled 2000-12-07, S/N 265 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WEBER-MUSTANG II DIAMOND
- Registry model: [Weber-Mustang II DIAMOND](https://openairdocs.org/model/weber-mustang-ii-diamond) (registry code 16901CE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 265
- Airframe hours: 950
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael Van Pray Jr
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 1998, 50 hours before
- Departed: L71, CALIFORNIA CITY, CA
- Airport: Private Airstrip, runway 18, 2,400 × 30 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 250 in this make and model, 4,200 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19980912023709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980912023709A), Sep 12, 1998: Amtrbb MUSTANG2, Taft, CA, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on the south-facing runway, the aircraft drifted off to the left side of the runway. The left wingtip…

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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