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Accidents · NTSB CEN26LA204 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Amateur-built MUSTANG II accident near Richmond, Texas, May 28, 2026

On May 28, 2026 at about 7:40 pm local time, a 2007 amateur-built MUSTANG II, registered N160MT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Richmond, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
May 28, 2026 · about 7:40 pm local time · cases in 2026
Place
Richmond, Texas · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Amateur-built MUSTANG II NO SERIES, built 2007
Registration
N160MT · registry record · serial 10160M
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record

On May 28, 2026, about 1440 central daylight time, a Mustang Aeronautics Mustang II airplane, N160MT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Richmond, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he had recently purchased the experimental amateur-built airplane, and the airplane was based at the Covey Trails Airport (X09), Richmond, Texas. The airplane departed from X09 and was performing multiple touch-and-go landings to the single turf runway at the airport. While performing the multiple touch-and-go landings, the pilot reported he was utilizing the carburetor heat. During the final touch-and-go landing, just after the takeoff, the engine sustained a partial loss of power. The engine was unable to provide sufficient power to climb, and the pilot performed a forced landing. The airplane impacted a metal fence, and it came to rest upright on a flat grass field just to the south of X09 near a residential area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to both wings. The pilot reported that during the recovery of the airplane from the accident site, he drained about 10 gallons of 100 low lead fuel from the fuselage fuel tank (the sole fuel tank that has a 25-gallon useable capacity). The airplane was recovered from the accident site, and it was transported to a secure location for future examination. The airplane, which was built in 2007, was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-E2A reciprocating engine and a Sensenich Propeller Company 70CM6S16 two-blade fixed pitch aluminum propeller.

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

  1. Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event

The aircraft

  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed

The flight

  • Departed from: X09 Richmond TX at 7:39 pm
  • Destination: X09 Richmond TX
  • Flight plan: none

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
  • Observation at 2:35 pm from KTME, 8 miles away

Weather report (METAR): METAR KTME 281935Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 30/21 A2994 RMK AO2

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26LA204.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.