Amateur-built MUSTANG II accident near Hamilton, Montana, June 5, 1990
On June 5, 1990 at about 3:15 pm local time, a amateur-built MUSTANG II, registered N81BL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton, Montana (Ravalli City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1990 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Montana · Ravalli City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MUSTANG II
- Registration
- N81BL · registry record · serial 1043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND A PAX WERE COMPLETING A X-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN HIS HOMEBUILT MUSTANG II. HE REPORTED LANDING ON RWY 16 (4,200 X 75 FT ASPHALT RWY) WITH WINDS HE ESTIMATED WERE FROM 250 DEG AT 25, GUSTING TO 45 KNOTS. HE SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, A GUST LIFTED THE RIGHT WING AND DRAGGED THE LEFT WING ON THE RWY. HE CONTINUED TO THE TIEDOWN AND FOUND THE WING SPAR BENT.
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: 909 hours in all; 417 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: V35 Caldwell ID at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.