Amateur-built MUSTANG II accident near Palatka, Florida, July 11, 2015
On July 11, 2015 at about 1:45 am local time, a 1992 amateur-built MUSTANG II, registered N59PB, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Palatka, Florida (Palatka Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a balked landing and attempted go-around in dark night conditions and without a landing light, which resulted in collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2015 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Palatka, Florida · Palatka Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MUSTANG II, built 1992
- Registration
- N59PB · registry record · serial 1276
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a cross country flight, the pilot of the experimental amateur built airplane encountered thunderstorms along his route. This added an additional 45 minutes of unanticipated flight time. He was concerned that night conditions were present, his airplane was not equipped with a landing light, and his destination airport was not lighted; as a result, he decided to divert to another airport which was equipped with lighting and had a longer paved runway. During his first attempt to land at the diversion airport, he was too fast on final approach and elected to go-around. During his second attempt to land, he misjudged his rate of descent and landed hard. The airplane then bounced twice. After the second bounce, he attempted to recover and go-around by adding full power and right rudder but the airplane entered a left roll, struck the ground with its left wingtip, and then cartwheeled, separating the engine before coming to rest inverted. During his egress from the airplane, the pilot received minor injuries. Examination of the airplane revealed that it was substantially damaged.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Lighting system › Exterior lighting › Not installed/available
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: airship; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,985.7 hours in all; 34.2 in this make and model; 26.2 in the last 90 days; 20.6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 262.4 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 15, 2014; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,725 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 262 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 79J Andalusia AL at 11:30 pm
- Destination: 7FL4 Green Cove FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 am from 28J
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on July 31, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot in Command | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Light Conditions | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 –overview of Airplane - Courtesy of FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2 –airplane Ground Scar and Location – Courtesy of FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 3 –airplane Overview at Night of Accident – Courtesy of FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.