Amateur-built Midget Mustang M-1 accident near Buena Vista, Colorado, February 23, 2008
On February 23, 2008 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Midget Mustang M-1, registered N53041, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Buena Vista, Colorado (Central Colorado Regional 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing to the accident was the gusty crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 2008 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Buena Vista, Colorado · Central Colorado Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Midget Mustang M-1
- Registration
- N53041 · no longer on the register · serial 499
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he started his takeoff roll on runway 33. When he reached 50 mph, he pushed the control forward stick to raise the tail. The airplane immediately swerved to the left and he corrected with right rudder. The airplane struck a snow bank along the right side of the runway and was substantially damaged. Recorded winds were from 270 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot had recently modified the airplane by repositioning the main landing gear.
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 takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Modification/alteration › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2007; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 896 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AEJ Buena Vista CO at 5:30 pm
- Destination: AEJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 8,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.