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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 24, 1993 · Thompson Bushby Mustang II Bushby MUS · N38BT

Madison, MS

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 24, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Madison, MS
Aircraft
Thompson Bushby Mustang II Bushby MUS
Tail Number
N38BT
Operator
Thompson William I S
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA94LA027

THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED THE AIRFIELD FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED NEAR NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS. ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST THE PILOT WERE INITIATED BUT AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE OCCURRED AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. FRIENDS OF THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED BEFORE AND THE PILOT HAD INSTALLED AN NEW HEAVY DUTY IGNITION MODULE FOR THE FORD V-6 ENGINE. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS TOO BADLY HEAT DAMAGED TO DETERMINE IF IT HAD FAILED.

NTSB Probable Cause

AN ENGINE FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Full Narrative

On November 24, 1993, about 1120 central standard time N38BT, an experimental, homebuilt Mustang II, registered to the pilot, William I.S. Thompson, crashed near Jackson, Mississippi, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot received fatal injuries. The flight was originating at the time. Witnesses at the scene stated that the airplane was observed to take off and start climbing normally. Shortly thereafter, they heard the engine fail and the airplane crashed in a field near the airport. As the rescuers attempted to help the pilot there was an explosion and the airplane was destroyed by fire. The engine was removed from the wreckage and transported to a local shop. The engine, a Ford V6 automotive engine was examined and no preimpact failures or faults were found by the FAA inspector who examined the engine. The airplane records available indicated, and friends of the pilot stated that the pilot had reported that the engine had failed once before and he had purchased a heavy duty dual ignition module, and installed it inside the fuselage because he feared that the heat in the engine compartment might harm it. The ignition module was removed and shipped to the NTSB Southeast Regional Office. Attempts were made to examine the module but it was too badly heat damaged to determine if any prefire/preimpact failures were present.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:20 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftThompson Bushby Mustang II Bushby MUS
Tail NumberN38BT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorThompson William I S
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsFord · V-6 · Reciprocating
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 4 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 55
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data