Amateur-built MINI MUSTANG accident near Page, Arizona, June 21, 1996
On June 21, 1996 at about 10:39 pm local time, a amateur-built MINI MUSTANG, registered N61D, was destroyed in an accident near Page, Arizona (Page Municipal airport). 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions, and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft. A factor relating to the accident was: the gusty/crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1996 · about 10:39 pm local time
- Place
- Page, Arizona · Page Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MINI MUSTANG MINI MUSTA
- Registration
- N61D · no longer on the register · serial 128
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a personal cross-country flight and stopped en route at Page, Arizona, during high crosswind conditions. After a brief stop, he departed. Once airborne, he asked the unicom operator about the distance to Flagstaff. He proceeded to circle the general area for several minutes, then asked for landing information. After several approaches to the main runway and to a dirt crosswind runway, he landed on the main runway. He added 15 gallons of fuel and again departed on the main runway. After liftoff, the right wing lifted twice (banking the airplane to the left). During the second bank, the airplane rolled to a nearly 'perpendicular' attitude, and the left wing tip contacted the surface, cartwheeling the airplane. A 30-degree right crosswind was reported at 25 gusting to 30 knots.
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: 4,200 hours in all; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BTF Bountiful UT
- Destination: PRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,499 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:30 pm from PGA
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.