Amateur-built MUSTANG II accident near Brush, Colorado, October 2, 2011
On October 2, 2011 at about 8:15 pm local time, a amateur-built MUSTANG II, registered N287BM, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Brush, Colorado (Brush Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during taxi, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 2011 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Brush, Colorado · Brush Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MUSTANG II
- Registration
- N287BM · no longer on the register · serial 287
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had landed and was taxiing about 25 mph when the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot’s efforts to correct the veer were unsuccessful, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The left main gear struck an obstruction and was partially separated from the fuselage. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane’s fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged during 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 on ground during taxi defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 15, 2007
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 502 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 25, 2011; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EIK Erie CO at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 7V5 Brush CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KAKO, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N287BM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.