Amateur-built Mustang II accident near Cedar City, Utah, October 1, 2003
On October 1, 2003 at about 6:55 pm local time, a amateur-built Mustang II, registered N9XQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar City, Utah. 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 pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2003 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar City, Utah · 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
- N9XQ · no longer on the register · serial 1684
- 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 just begun his descent when the airplane's engine suddenly lost power. The pilot attempted a restart without success. He said he declared an emergency, and established a best glide speed. The pilot set up for a forced landing to a state highway. He said he set "full flap" and "let the airplane stall at about 25-30 [feet], which resulted in a sudden drop ..." The airplane impacted on the road. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid on the road, substantially damaging both wings and the forward fuselage. The airplane came to a stop within 200 feet of its initial impact point. The pilot said he fueled the 28 gallon tank to full before leaving on his trip. The pilot reported that since the refueling he had flown a total of 2 hours and 20 minutes. The pilot said that the airplane's engine burns approximately 8 to 8-1/2 gallons per hour. An examination of the fuel tanks, lines, sump, and fuel filter showed no evidence of fuel. No other anomalies with the airplane were found.
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
- Flight time: 1,175 hours in all; 84 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 30, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 132 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 2002; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,985 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Monument Valley AZ at 7:00 pm
- Destination: CDC Cedar City UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from CDC, 5 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.