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NTSB Report

March 2, 1998 · Sweet-House RD Mustang 2 RD Mustang · N546SH

Madera, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 2, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Madera, CA
Aircraft
Sweet-House RD Mustang 2 RD Mustang
Tail Number
N546SH
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX98LA099

The pilot reported that he was on approach to runway 30. As he initiated the flare, he felt the airplane bleed off airspeed quicker than anticipated and realized that 'the aircraft was quickly starting to stall.' The pilot stated that he knew that he was too high and applied power to arrest the stall but the left wing dropped and seemed to start flying again when power was applied. The pilot then attempted to abort the landing and execute a go-around but the aircraft veered to the left off the runway. The left wingtip contacted the ground, followed by the engine and right wing. The right wing broke off at the wing splice point and the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident he had logged only 1 hour in this type of aircraft.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach, which resulted in a stall. An additional cause was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the attempted go around. A factor in this accident is the pilot's lack of total experience in aircraft type.

Full Narrative

On March 1, 1998, at 1641 hours Pacific standard time, a Sweet-House RD Mustang 2, N546SH, collided with terrain short of the runway 30 at the Madera, California, airport while attempting to land. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local personal flight began at 1600 and was terminating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he was on approach to runway 30. As he initiated the flare, he felt "the airplane bleed off airspeed quicker than anticipated," and realized that "the aircraft was quickly starting to stall." The pilot reported that he "knew that [he] was too high and applied power to arrest the stall [but] the left wing dropped [and] seemed to start flying again when power was applied." The pilot further reported that he then attempted to abort the landing and execute a go-around but the aircraft veered to the left off the runway. The left wingtip impacted the ground and the pilot reported that he then "had no control over the aircraft." The propeller and engine then impacted the ground and the right wing broke off at the wing splice point. The aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident he had logged only 1 hour in this type of aircraft.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:41 PST
Nearest AirportMadera Municipal (0nm)
Runway30
Runway Length4544 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSweet-House RD Mustang 2 RD Mustang
Tail NumberN546SH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data