Pilot Debrief

MUSTANG AERONAUTICS MUSTANG II near Richmond, TX — 2026-05-28

Investigation ongoingCEN26LA204
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Date
2026-05-28
Location
Richmond, TX, USA
Aircraft
MUSTANG AERONAUTICS MUSTANG II
Registration
N160MT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On May 28, 2026, about 1440 central daylight time, a Mustang Aeronautics Mustang II airplane, N160MT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Richmond, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he had recently purchased the experimental amateur-built airplane, and the airplane was based at the Covey Trails Airport (X09), Richmond, Texas. The airplane departed from X09 and was performing multiple touch-and-go landings to the single turf runway at the airport. While performing the multiple touch-and-go landings, the pilot reported he was utilizing the carburetor heat. During the final touch-and-go landing, just after the takeoff, the engine sustained a partial loss of power. The engine was unable to provide sufficient power to climb, and the pilot performed a forced landing. The airplane impacted a metal fence, and it came to rest upright on a flat grass field just to the south of X09 near a residential area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to both wings. The pilot reported that during the recovery of the airplane from the accident site, he drained about 10 gallons of 100 low lead fuel from the fuselage fuel tank (the sole fuel tank that has a 25-gallon useable capacity). The airplane was recovered from the accident site, and it was transported to a secure location for future examination. The airplane, which was built in 2007, was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-E2A reciprocating engine and a Sensenich Propeller Company 70CM6S16 two-blade fixed pitch aluminum propeller.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (partial) · Takeoff
  • Loss of Thrust on Takeoff
View NTSB preliminary report

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