WPR10CA204

NTSB accident investigation · Mathis Melvin R Bushby Mustang II · Apple Valley, CA · April 8, 2010

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 8, 2010, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
Place
Apple Valley, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N217ATMathis Melvin R Bushby Mustang II
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 12, 2010
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20100408033179A
Case key
75745

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The CFI's inability to overcome the improper control inputs of the private pilot, who was handling the flight controls, which resulted in their loss of directional control during landing.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The certified flight instructor (CFI) had previous experience flying the experimental, homebuilt airplane. He offered to provide the prospective airplane purchaser with a familiarization flight that included stalls and landings. The CFI demonstrated a couple of stalls to the student, who held a private pilot certificate and a tailwheel endorsement, and they then practiced landings. The CFI reported that he was monitoring the pilot's performance while the pilot was handling the controls. The CFI stated that the pilot's first landing was not satisfactorily performed, and the pilot almost lost control of the conventional gear airplane during rollout. The pilot reported that he had difficulty controlling the throttle, the design of which was unfamiliar to him. The pilot's second approach and 3-point touchdown appeared to be satisfactory; however, after the airplane rolled several hundred feet, the private pilot suddenly and abruptly applied left and right rudder pressure while moving the flight controls erratically. The CFI joined the pilot on the flight controls in an attempt at maintaining control. The CFI could not overcome the inputs of the private pilot and directional control was lost. The airplane's divergent rollout course was not corrected and the airplane exited off the left side of the runway and ground-looped. The airplane came to rest with collapsed landing gear and a bent wing.

Factual narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) had previous experience flying the experimental, homebuilt, model of airplane. He offered to provide the prospective airplane purchaser with a familiarization flight that included stalls and landings. The CFI demonstrated a couple of stalls to the student, who held a private pilot certificate and a tail wheel endorsement. Thereafter, landings were practiced. The CFI reported that he was monitoring the pilot's performance while the pilot was handling the controls. The CFI stated that the pilot's first landing was not satisfactorily performed, and the pilot almost lost control of the conventional gear airplane during rollout. The pilot's second approach and 3-point touchdown appeared satisfactory. However, after the airplane rolled several hundred feet, the private pilot suddenly and abruptly applied left and right rudder pressure while moving the flight controls erratically. The CFI joined the pilot on the flight controls in an attempt at maintaining control. The CFI could not overcome the erratic inputs of the private pilot, and directional control was lost. The airplane's divergent rollout course was not corrected and the airplane exited off the left side of the runway and ground looped. The airplane came to rest with collapsed landing gear and a bent wing.

Aircraft

Registration
N217AT
Reported as
Mathis Melvin R Bushby Mustang II
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
168
Airframe hours
50
Engine
Lycoming IO-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · January 1, 2010
Departed
APV · Apple Valley, CA
Destination
APV · Apple Valley, CA
Airport
APV · Apple Valley, runway 18, 6,498 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
73
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
December 18, 2009
Seat
Left
Flight hours
8,500 total · 20 in this make and model · 8,300 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Role
Student pilot
Age
48
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 28, 2008
Seat
Right
Flight hours
750 total · 2 in this make and model · 700 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.