# NTSB WPR13CA153: Andre Kostrzewa Mustang 2, N670AK, Bountiful, UT, March 18, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 18, 2013, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Bountiful, UT
- Coordinates: 40.871944, -111.927497 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8719&lon=-111.9275&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 7, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86449
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86449/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86449
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA153

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing flare in tailwind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Andre Kostrzewa MUSTANG 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=0563188), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Andre Kostrzewa MUSTANG 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0563188), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Andre Kostrzewa MUSTANG 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0563188), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Andre Kostrzewa MUSTANG 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0563188), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing approach in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he encountered rough air, and the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airplane subsequently came to rest inverted, substantially damaging the wings and fuselage. At the time of the accident, the airplane was landing with a right quartering tailwind of 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during landing in the tail-wheel equipped airplane, rough air was encountered on approach and the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airplane subsequently came to rest inverted substantially damaging the wings and fuselage. At the time of the accident, the airplane was landing with a right quartering tail wind of 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N670AK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N670AK-2018-02-16), registration cancelled 2018-02-16, S/N 55544AK, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Andre Kostrzewa Mustang 2
- Registry model: [Andre Kostrzewa MUSTANG 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/andre-kostrzewa-mustang-2) (registry code 0563188) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-E2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e2a) (registry code 42120, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 55544AK
- Airframe hours: 13
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Andre Kostrzewa
- Registered owner: Andre Kostrzewa
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: BTF, Bountiful, UT
- Destination: BTF, Bountiful, UT
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: BTF, Skypark Airport, runway 16, 4,700 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 4,100 total, 13 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 5 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 20130318003409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130318003409A), Mar 18, 2013: Andre Kostrzewa MUSTANG 2, Bountiful, UT, Destroyed. Pilot stated aircraft hit shifting winds during flare and touchdown causing the aircraft to pitch nose up and drift east of runway 16 at Bountiful skypark. He…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86449. 5.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 792 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Accident/Incident Report (item 2, .PDF, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Accident%2FIncident%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Photo 1. Airplane upside down, damage to left wing and fuselage. (item 4, .PDF, 719 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397862&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Airplane%20upside%20down,%20damage%20to%20left%20wing%20and%20fuselage.-Master.PDF
- Photo 2. Engine with wreckage in background. (item 5, .PDF, 814 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Engine%20with%20wreckage%20in%20background.-Master.PDF
- Photo 3. Right wing and empennage. (item 6, .PDF, 731 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397864&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Right%20wing%20and%20empennage.-Master.PDF
- Photo 4. Looking front to aft of the airplane. (item 7, .PDF, 853 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397866&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Looking%20front%20to%20aft%20of%20the%20airplane.-Master.PDF
- Photo 5. Engine laying beside wreckage. (item 8, .PDF, 834 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20Engine%20laying%20beside%20wreckage.-Master.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.

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