Amateur-built MUSTANG-II accident near Valparaiso, Indiana, June 16, 1986
On June 16, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built MUSTANG-II, registered N9021A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valparaiso, Indiana (Porter County Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- June 16, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Valparaiso, Indiana · Porter County Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MUSTANG-II
- Registration
- N9021A · registry record · serial 467
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THREE APPARENT HARD TOUCH-&-GO LANDINGS, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON THE FOURTH & FINAL LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,230 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 52 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1986; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 1,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from GYY, 27 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.