Amateur-built BUSHBY MUS accident near Gladwin, Michigan, August 7, 2009
On August 7, 2009 at about 7:55 pm local time, a amateur-built BUSHBY MUS, registered N37JD, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Gladwin, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2009 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Gladwin, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BUSHBY MUS
- Registration
- N37JD · no longer on the register · serial 502
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After completing a 16-hour shift at work, the pilot flew the airplane for a local flight. Radar data showed the airplane depart to the north and execute a series of maneuvers approximately 25 miles north of the departure airport before radar contact was lost. A witness who was flying his own airplane observed the accident airplane and attempted to communicate via radio; however, no communication was established. The accident site was located in heavily wooded terrain and the airplane came to rest in a nose-down attitude, approximately 2 miles south-southwest of the last radar target. There was no postimpact fire. Examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed no anomalies to the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicological tests were positive for unspecified levels of ephedrine, fluconazole, and pseudoephedrine, and none of the drugs are typically regarded as impairing. The pilot was likely fatigued, though the investigation was unable to establish that the pilot's fatigue played a role in 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 594 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 509 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 29, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 524 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 25, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3BS Midland MI at 7:40 pm
- Destination: 3BS Midland MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from HTL, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.