Amateur-built M1 MUSTANG accident near Marietta, Georgia, March 30, 1994
On March 30, 1994 at about 10:20 pm local time, a amateur-built M1 MUSTANG, registered N130MJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marietta, Georgia (Mccollum Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors in the accident were the lack of familiarization with the aircraft by the pilot, and throttle cable rigging in the experimental aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1994 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Marietta, Georgia · Mccollum Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built M1 MUSTANG
- Registration
- N130MJ · no longer on the register · serial 962
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD PURCHASED THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT THE MORNING OF THE FLIGHT, AND WAS MAKING HIS FIRST FLIGHT IN THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT ON DOWNWIND DURING HIS SECOND LANDING, AS HE RELEASED THE THROTTLE TO LOWER THE FLAPS, THE THROTTLE MOVED FORWARD AND INCREASED THE ENGINE RPM. HE STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AS HE AGAIN RELEASED THE THROTTLE TO RAISE THE FLAPS, THE THROTTLE AGAIN MOVED FORWARD AND CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE SAID THAT DURING HIS ATTEMPT TO APPLY BRAKES, THE RUDDER PEDAL ASSEMBLY COLLAPSED, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A RAVINE. WITNESSES STATED THAT ON THE SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT TOUCH DOWN UNTIL ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE WITNESSES STATED THAT IT APPEARED THE AIRCRAFT SPEED WAS FASTER THAN NORMAL DURING THE LANDING.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,045 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 3,791 as pilot in command; 1,280 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 408 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1993; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 902 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 5,105 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from MGE, 120 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.