Amateur-built MUSTANG II accident near Salem, Ohio, September 10, 1987
On September 10, 1987 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built MUSTANG II, registered N80ET, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salem, Ohio (Salem Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- September 10, 1987 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Salem, Ohio · Salem Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MUSTANG II
- Registration
- N80ET · no longer on the register · serial 194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A COML PLT (PIC IN THE LEFT SEAT) WAS PROVIDING A FAMILIARIZATION FLT FOR A PVT PLT (COPLT IN THE RGT SEAT). THE PIC ALLOWED THE RGT SEAT PLT TO MAKE THE TAKEOFF. THE PIC RPRTD THAT AFTER THE ACFT LIFTED OFF & CLIMBED ABOUT 5 TO 10 FT, THE RGT WING DIPPED & THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RGT. THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND ON THE RGT SIDE OF THE RWY, BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN, THEN TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT UNEVEN TERRAIN & TREES AND WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED.
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
- Flight time: 2,582 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,582 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 36 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1986; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 38D at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10L, 2,616 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from YNG, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.