# NTSB MIA94LA027: Thompson Bushby Mustang II, N38BT, Madison, MS, November 24, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 24, 1993, 11:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Madison, MS - Location: 32.4739° N, 90.1309° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Madison, MS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4739&lon=-90.1309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37463 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37463/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA027 ## Probable cause AN ENGINE FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. ## Analysis THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED THE AIRFIELD FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED NEAR NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS. ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST THE PILOT WERE INITIATED BUT AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE OCCURRED AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. FRIENDS OF THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED BEFORE AND THE PILOT HAD INSTALLED AN NEW HEAVY DUTY IGNITION MODULE FOR THE FORD V-6 ENGINE. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS TOO BADLY HEAT DAMAGED TO DETERMINE IF IT HAD FAILED. ## Factual narrative On November 24, 1993, about 1120 central standard time N38BT, an experimental, homebuilt Mustang II, registered to the pilot, William I.S. Thompson, crashed near Jackson, Mississippi, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot received fatal injuries. The flight was originating at the time. Witnesses at the scene stated that the airplane was observed to take off and start climbing normally. Shortly thereafter, they heard the engine fail and the airplane crashed in a field near the airport. As the rescuers attempted to help the pilot there was an explosion and the airplane was destroyed by fire. The engine was removed from the wreckage and transported to a local shop. The engine, a Ford V6 automotive engine was examined and no preimpact failures or faults were found by the FAA inspector who examined the engine. The airplane records available indicated, and friends of the pilot stated that the pilot had reported that the engine had failed once before and he had purchased a heavy duty dual ignition module, and installed it inside the fuselage because he feared that the heat in the engine compartment might harm it. The ignition module was removed and shipped to the NTSB Southeast Regional Office. Attempts were made to examine the module but it was too badly heat damaged to determine if any prefire/preimpact failures were present. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38BT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38BT-1994-05-04), registration cancelled 1994-05-04, S/N 1234 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THOMPSON BUSHBY MUSTANG II (BUSHBY MUS) - Registry model: [Thompson William I S BUSHBY MUSTANG II](https://openairdocs.org/model/thompson-william-i-s-bushby-mustang-ii) (registry code 1690673) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1234 - Airframe hours: 71 - Engines: FORD V-6 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thompson, William I.S. - Registered owner: Thompson, William I.S. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Destination: MBO, JACKSON, MS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: JAN, 6 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 19931124044429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931124044429A), Nov 24, 1993: Amtrbb MUSTANG2, Madison, MS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine failed on climbout. Crashed and burned. Cause not determined. Ford V6 engine. 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.