Amateur-built MIDGET MUSTANG M-1 accident near Rome, Georgia, August 30, 1986
On August 30, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built MIDGET MUSTANG M-1, registered N545JS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rome, Georgia (Richard B. Russell airport). 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 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
- August 30, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rome, Georgia · Richard B. Russell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MIDGET MUSTANG M-1 MIDGET MUS
- Registration
- N545JS · registry record · serial 1001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED HE TOOK OFF TOO CLOSE BEHIND A PRECEDING ACFT AND WAS CAUGHT IN THE WING TIP VORTICIES. THE VORTICES COMBINED WITH A 110 DEG LEFT CROSSWIND (WIND 070/20 GUSTING HIGHER) RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND GROUND IMPACT. THE PLT SAID HE WAS IN A HURRY TO GET HOME BEFORE DARK.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,049 hours in all; 310 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 1,718 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 1981
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Evansville IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from ATL, 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.