Pilot Debrief

PIERCE, HENRY BUSHBY MUSTANG II near Granbury, TX — 2015-09-25

Final reportCEN15FA422
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Date
2015-09-25
Location
Granbury, TX, USA
Airport
GDJ
Aircraft
PIERCE, HENRY BUSHBY MUSTANG II
Registration
N929DS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain.

NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the airplane takeoff, and level off as it flew down the runway at a low altitude. It then entered a steep nose-up climb, followed by a sudden roll to the right and a steep nose-down descent. Video images from a security camera, showed the airplane descended at about 20° to 30° nose-down attitude until it impacted the terrain. Examination of the wreckage did not find any anomalies that would have contributed to the accident. Signatures on the propeller were consistent with the propeller being driven during the impact sequence. A review of the pilot's video camera found recordings of similar maneuvers that had a right rolling tendency during the airplane's recovery to level flight. The circumstances of the accident were consistent with the pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a steep climb resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the takeoff after initial climb issues were observed.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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