Amateur-built Mustang II accident near Calhoun, Georgia, October 16, 2003
On October 16, 2003 at about 3:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Mustang II, registered N262CS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calhoun, Georgia (Tom B. David Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2003 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Calhoun, Georgia · Tom B. David Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Mustang II
- Registration
- N262CS · no longer on the register · serial 1977
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff the pilot remained in the traffic pattern for runway 17. The airplane was on final approach at a speed of 80 knots. According to witnesses, the airplane appeared to have developed a high sink rate as it approached touchdown. The pilot stated the airplane touched down at 70 knots. The landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded on the fuselage. The airplane came to rest in the grass 50 feet off the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the right wheel and axle broken off the gear leg, both main gears collapsed, dents on the bottom of the fuselage and bottom of the wings, the composite propeller blades broken, damage to the nose cone and sheet metal damaged to the tail end of fuselage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 195 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 27, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 2003; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Chevrolet 4.3 Liter (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CZL Calhoun GA at 3:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,010 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from CHA, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.