Amateur-built MUSTANG II accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota, August 21, 1987
On August 21, 1987, a amateur-built MUSTANG II, registered N44TA, was destroyed in an accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- August 21, 1987
- Place
- Aberdeen, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MUSTANG II
- Registration
- N44TA · no longer on the register · serial 184
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT PERFORM TWO SNAP ROLLS. DURING THE SECOND SNAP ROLL SOMETHING CAME OFF THE AIRCRAFT AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE ACFT THEN BECAME INVERTED AND DESCENDED UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICAL, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE ACFT CANOPY WAS FOUND ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE LIST OF OPERATING LIMITATONS ATTACHED TO THE AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE FOR THIS ACFT STATES INTENTIONAL AEROBATIC FLIGHT WAS PROHIBITED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,150 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 1987; 1,495 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABR Aberdeen SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 am from ABR, 6 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.