# NTSB WPR10LA468: Giboney Thunder Mustang, N151G, Reno, NV, September 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 2010, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.668056, -119.876388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6681&lon=-119.8764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77381 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA468 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77381/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77381 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA468 ## Probable cause Failure of a connecting rod bearing and two connecting rods, which resulted in a loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Giboney George A JR THUNDER MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=05614UP), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Giboney George A JR THUNDER MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05614UP), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Giboney George A JR THUNDER MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05614UP), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Giboney George A JR THUNDER MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05614UP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was flying as one of a group of seven airplanes in an air race, and, during lap four, the engine lost all power. The pilot increased altitude to 2,000 feet above ground level and entered the landing pattern but had to extend his downwind to avoid traffic still on the race course. The wind took him further away from the runway than he intended so that when he turned toward the runway, he could not complete the turn to the runway heading, and intercepted the runway on a 50-degree angle at an intersection with another runway. The airplane rolled across the intersection, onto a taxiway, and continued onto a dirt ramp before cartwheeling and coming to rest in the dirt about halfway between the taxiway and the runway. Postaccident examination of the engine found that a connecting rod bearing and two connecting rods in the engine fractured and separated, which resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 2010, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Giboney Thunder Mustang, N151G, collided with terrain during landing at Reno/Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The local air race flight departed about 1545. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot was flying as one of a group of seven airplanes in a race at the Reno National Championship Air Races. He was passing pylon 5 on lap four when the airplane’s engine lost all power. He climbed the airplane to 2,000 feet above ground level (agl). Based on his position and the wind direction, he decided to land on runway 26. He entered the landing pattern, but had to extend his downwind to avoid traffic still on the race course. The wind took him further away from the runway than he intended. When he turned toward the runway, he had insufficient altitude to align with the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane was heading 210° when it touched down on the east side of the intersection of runway 26 and runway 14/32. The airplane rolled across the intersection and onto taxiway A1. The airplane continued across the taxiway onto a dirt ramp, which pitched the airplane up into the air, but below flying speed. He maintained full right rudder and full up elevator; the right wing dropped until it contacted the ground. The airplane cartwheeled twice, and the airplane came to rest in the dirt about halfway between taxiway A1 and runway 26. The pilot reported that a connecting rod bearing and two connecting rods fractured and separated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N151G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N151G-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N FITM024 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Giboney Thunder Mustang - Registry model: [Giboney George A JR THUNDER MUSTANG](https://openairdocs.org/model/giboney-george-a-jr-thunder-mustang) (registry code 05614UP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: FITM024 - Airframe hours: 346 - Engines: Falconer V-12 1000 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Operator: George A Giboney Jr - Registered owner: George A Giboney Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 21, 2010, 12 hours before - Departed: RTS, Reno, NV - Destination: RTS, Reno, NV - Airport: RTS, Reno Stead, runway 14, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2010; seat: single; flight hours: 710 total, 268 in this make and model, 613 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 19 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KRNO, 8 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 20100919045839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100919045839A), Sep 19, 2010: Giboney Geo THUNDER MUS, Stead, NV, Destroyed. Pilot and aircraft participating in air racing event. Engine failure occurred on last lap of race. Aircraft bounced and cartwheeled into dirt on landing with… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77381. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.