Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

August 14, 1989 · Mccormick Bushby Mustang II Bushby MUS · N123WP

Spicewood, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
August 14, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Spicewood, TX
Aircraft
Mccormick Bushby Mustang II Bushby MUS
Tail Number
N123WP
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
FTW89DRG09

The female victim was riding a galloping horse adjacent and parallel to the runway as the pilot was performing a series of take offs, landings, and touch and goes. This had been arranged by the victim for a professional photographer to take pictures of her, as she and her horse were passed by the airplane overtaking her from behind. The horse and rider were on the right side of the runway, between the photographer and the runway. A witness reported that on the sixth or seventh pass, a 'popping sound' was heard as the airplane passed. He 'assumed' that indicated contact between the airplane wing and the victim's head. He also observed the rider, who 'appeared to be unconscious,' fall off of the horse as it continued to run. The airport manager did not see the mishap, but he heard a 'loud thump.' The photographer's written affidavit stated in part that the airplane 'veered off course and struck Jamie which in the back of the head.'

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND.

Full Narrative

THE FEMALE VICTIM WAS RIDING A GALLUPING HORSE ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY AS THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A SERIES OF TAKE OFFS, LANDINGS, AND TOUCH AND GOES. THIS HAD BEEN ARRANGED BY THE VICTIM FOR A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER TO TAKE PICTURES OF HER, AS SHE AND HER HORSE WERE PASSED BY THE AIRPLANE OVERTAKING HER FROM BEHIND. THE HORSE AND RIDER WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, BETWEEN THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT ON THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH PASS, A 'POPPING SOUND' WAS HEARD AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED. HE 'ASSUMED' THAT INDICATED CONTACT BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE WING AND THE VICTIM'S HEAD. HE ALSO OBSERVED THE RIDER, WHO 'APPEARED TO BE UNCONSCIOUS' FALL OFF OF THE HORSE AS IT CONTINUED TO RUN. THE AIRPORT MANAGER DID NOT SEE THE MISHAP, BUT HEARD A 'LOUD THUMP.' THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S WRITTEN AFFIDAVIT STATED IN PART THAT THE AIRPLANE 'VEERED OFF COURSE AND STRUCK JAMIE WHICH IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.'

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time08:45 CDT
Nearest AirportAustin Air Ranch (0nm N)
Runway17
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMccormick Bushby Mustang II Bushby MUS
Tail NumberN123WP
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:54
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data