Amateur-built MUSTANG II accident near Brownsboro, Alabama, February 2, 1986
On February 2, 1986 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built MUSTANG II, registered N32RH, was destroyed in an accident near Brownsboro, Alabama (Madison County Sky Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1986 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brownsboro, Alabama · Madison County Sky Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MUSTANG II
- Registration
- N32RH · registry record · serial 96
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS AT 400 FT AGL DURING TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO TURN AFTER THE POWER LOSS AND THEN THE WINGS LEVELED. POWER WAS HEARD TO RESUME AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL. THE ACTUAL CRASH WAS NOT OBSERVED BUT ONE PARTY WHO HAD FLOWN IN THIS AIRCRAFT THOUGHT THAT THE TORQUE, ASSUMING THAT THE THROTTLE WAS LEFT AT TAKEOFF SETTING, ROLLED THE ACFT INVERTED. DUE TO FIRE AND IMPACT DAMAGE NO POSITIVE REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS WAS DETERMINED.
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: 435 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 3M5 Huntsville AL at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.