# NTSB NYC90DNE02: Walter Hudson Mustang 2, N29WH, Westfield, MA, April 1, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 1, 1990, 13:22 local (18:22 UTC)
- Place: Westfield, MA
- Location: 42.1579° N, 72.7159° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WESTFIELD-BARNES RGNL (BAF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1579&lon=-72.7159&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36509
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90DNE02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36509/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90DNE02

## Probable cause

AN ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE FROM A PRECEDING AIRPLANE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO TAKEOFF CLOSE BEHIND THE PRECEEDING AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - wake turbulence - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE STARTED A TAKEOFF ROLL APPROXIMATELY 20 SECONDS AFTER A PRECEDING AIRPLANE. AS THE AIRPLANE BROKE GROUND, IT WAS OBSERVED TO ROLL 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT FOLLOWED BY A 180 DEGREE ROLL TO THE LEFT AND THEN ROLL WINGS LEVEL. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT THINK HE WOULD CLEAR THE TREES AHEAD OF THE AIRPLANE AND PULLED THE POWER OFF AND LANDED. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES DURING THE GROUND ROLL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29WH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29WH-1991-06-20), registration cancelled 1991-06-20, S/N WHA3 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WALTER HUDSON MUSTANG 2
- Registry model: [Hudson Walter MUSTANG II](https://openairdocs.org/model/hudson-walter-mustang-ii) (registry code 1690435) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: WHA-3
- Airframe hours: 322
- Engines: LYCOMING O320-DIA 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gary Hoover
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 1989, 0 hours before
- Airport: BAF, Barnes Municipal, runway 33, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 30 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BAF

## 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 19900401007389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900401007389A), Apr 1, 1990: Amtrbb MUSTANG2, Westfield, MA, Substantial damage. Hard right turn and vertical bank on liftoff. Leveled and aborted but hit trees. Jet airliner had just departed.

## Other investigations on N29WH (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 FTW88DRA13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DRA13), May 23, 1988: Hudson Mustang II (N29WH), Tomball, TX, 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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