# NTSB WPR15LA001: Gaston Thomas D Thunder Mustang, N51TG, Council, ID, October 3, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 2014, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Council, ID - Coordinates: 44.759998, -116.448059 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7600&lon=-116.4481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Ryan Falconer Racing Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 90201 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90201/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90201 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control while maneuvering for landing following a loss of oil pressure. Contributing to the accident was foreign material contamination of the oil system due to improper maintenance. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance: repair](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Gaston Thomas D THUNDER MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md?model=05615HU), [All aircraft, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Gaston Thomas D THUNDER MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=05615HU), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Gaston Thomas D THUNDER MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05615HU), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Gaston Thomas D THUNDER MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05615HU), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gaston Thomas D THUNDER MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05615HU), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot/builder had not flown his experimental amateur-built airplane for several months while he performed a top overhaul of the engine. During the first flight after completion of the overhaul, a witness observed the pilot start the airplane, complete an engine run-up, and take off uneventfully. Shortly thereafter, the pilot radioed that he was having an engine oil pressure issue and was returning to the airport. The witness then observed the airplane on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The airplane turned onto the base leg about "1/2 mile closer than normal," and, upon turning onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, began a series of descending S-turns. The airplane then made a "hard" right turn away from the runway and impacted rocky terrain. The airplane was destroyed, and the pilot was fatally injured. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed foreign material in the oil consistent with the remnants of blue paper shop towels. This contamination was likely the cause of a low oil pressure indication. Recorded data indicated that the engine experienced a loss of oil pressure about two minutes before the accident. All other recorded parameters revealed no anomalies, with the engine indicating about 2,000 rpm at the time of impact, which may suggest that the pilot was trying to limit internal damage to the engine by reducing its power setting. Given the witness account of the airplane turning onto the base leg closer than normal, it is possible that the observed s-turns on the final leg of the approach, as well as the turn away from the runway, were an attempt to lose altitude and speed so that the airplane could be landed on the runway. It is likely that the pilot's preoccupation with the low oil pressure indication contributed to a loss of control while maneuvering for landing. Toxicological testing of the pilot was positive for diphenhydramine; however, there was no evidence to suggest that this may have contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative The airplane was an experimental amateur built Thomas D Gaston, Thunder Mustang, serial number EITM027. A review of the airplane's logbooks revealed that the airplane had a total airframe time of 222.8 hours at the last conditional inspection dated July 1, 2013. The last entry in the aircraft logbook was dated October 2, 2014, the day before the accident. The entry was for a conditional inspection, and was signed by the pilot/builder but no aircraft times were recorded in the entry. The engine was a Falconer V-12, serial number 12027. Total time on the engine at the last inspection was unrecorded, and could not be determined; time since major overhaul was 0.0 hours. The engine logbook had an entry dated October 2, 2014, stating the engine was test run, and safe for flight. The engine was equipped with two MoTec M48 Engine Control Units (ECU). The units were recovered and sent to the NTSB recorders lab for download. The accident pilot was overheard on the airport UNICOM frequency by witnesses at the airport. The pilot reported he was returning due to low oil pressure. No other communication from the pilot was heard. On October 3, 2014, about 1330 mountain daylight time (MDT), an experimental Thomas D Gaston, Thunder Mustang, N51TG, crashed during approach to landing at the Council Municipal Airport, Council, Idaho. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airline transport pilot was the sole occupant, and sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The local personal flight departed Council at an undetermined time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses reported that during a flight after the pilot had performed maintenance on the engine, the pilot radioed that he was having an engine oil pressure issue, and was returning to the airport. One witness observed the airplane flying a normal pattern until he turned base closer to the airport than normal. He then observed the airplane as it turned on to final making descending "S" turns, he then saw the airplane make a very hard right turn towards the North-Northeast about 100 feet above the ground. He watched the airplane as it flew away from the airport when he lost sight of it. An autopsy was completed at the request of the Adams County Coroner on October 4, 2014. The coroner ruled the manner and cause of death to be a result of blunt force trauma due to an aircraft accident. No significant natural disease was identified by autopsy. The FAA's Bioaeronautical Research Sciences Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing of specimens of the pilot. Analysis of the specimens contained no findings for carbon monoxide, and volatiles. They did not perform tests for cyanide. The report contained the following findings for tested drugs: 0.034 (ug/ml) diphenhydramine detected in blood cavity.. A review of Federal AviationAdministration (FAA) airman records revealed that the 75-year old pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot also held a repairman experimental aircraft builder certificate. The pilot held a third-class medical certificate issued on June 30, 2014. It had the limitations that the pilot must wear corrective lenses for distant vision, and possess glasses for near vision. No personal flight records were located for the pilot. The investigator in charge obtained the aeronautical experience listed in this report from a review of the FAA airmen medical records on file in the Airman and Medical Records Center located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The pilot reported on his medical application that he had a total time of 18,500 hours with 25 hours logged in the last 6 months. The airplane engine was equipped with two engine control units (ECU) which were recovered and sent to the NTSB recorders lab for download. The NTSB lab specialist submitted a factual report which is attached to the docket for this accident. A summary of the findings of the ECU's revealed that the engine lost oil pressure 110 seconds prior to the accident. The recorded engine RPM increased and decreased in correlation with the recorded throttle position throughout the flight. The engine RPM at impact was 2,000 RPM. All the other recording parameters appeared normal until time of impact. Examination of the recovered engine was conducted on October 7, 2015, at the facilities of Air Transport Inc. in Phoenix Arizona. A report of the examination is attached to the accident docket. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was noted during the examination of the recovered engine. The lower oil pan was removed and the bottom end of the engine was visually examined with no signs of thermal damage or oil starvation identified. A foreign substance was found in the oil pan and throughout the oil cavity consistent with shredded blue paper shop towels which had been mixed in with the oil. Review of the aircraft records revealed limited entries as to the detail of work being done on the airframe or engine. Additional information regarding the work done on the airplane or engine by the pilot/mechanic was obtained by conversations with witnesses without any supporting documents from the aircraft records. Investigators from the FAA examined the wreckage at the accident scene. The accident site was in a rocky field, about 1/3 of a mile northwest of the approach end of runway 17. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a ground scar. The airplane impacted the ground at a shallow angle, and the fuselage broke apart as it slid approximately 60 feet along a heading of 318° true. The engine broke loose from the airframe and slid another 15 feet. The gear reduction case and propeller hub continued another 25 feet with one blade intact and largely undamaged. There was no rotational damagenoted to the propeller. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51TG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51TG-2018-03-14), registration cancelled 2018-03-14, S/N EITM027, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GASTON THOMAS D THUNDER MUSTANG (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Gaston Thomas D THUNDER MUSTANG](https://openairdocs.org/model/gaston-thomas-d-thunder-mustang) (registry code 05615HU) (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: EITM027 - Year built: 2005 - Engines: Falconer V-12 660 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: U82, Council, ID - Destination: U82, Council, ID - Airport: U82, Council Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: fatal; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 18,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: KMYL, 17 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 20141003017949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141003017949A), Oct 3, 2014: Gaston Thomas D THUNDER MUSTANG, Council, ID, Destroyed, 1 fatal. N51TG crashed on oct 3rd, 2014 at 13:30 local MDT. The pilot was fatally injured and was the only occupant at the time. According to witness testimony, the… ## Docket (14 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90201. 9.0 MB in all. - Onboard Electronic Devices Specialist's Factual Report (item 1, .PDF, 5 photos, 754 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Onboard%20Electronic%20Devices%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Onboard Electronic Devices Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 1 (item 2, .CSV, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444846&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Onboard%20Electronic%20Devices%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20-%20Attachment%201-Master.csv - Diagram of Flight Path-Witness (item 3, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Diagram%20of%20Flight%20Path-Witness-Master.PDF - Debris Field (item 4, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Debris%20Field-Master.PDF - Witness Statement-Stark (item 5, .PDF, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Stark-Master.PDF - Record of Coversation-Stark (item 6, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Coversation-Stark-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 7, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Engine Examination Report (item 8, .PDF, 22 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20Report-Master.PDF - Aircraft Logbook (item 9, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Engine Logbook (item 10, .PDF, 688 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 11, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 12, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 13, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Changes to Factual 3-20-17 (item 14, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Changes%20to%20Factual%203-20-17-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. --- 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.