Amateur-built MUSTANG II accident near Livermore, California, July 3, 1998
On July 3, 1998 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built MUSTANG II, registered N7LP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livermore, California (Livermore Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inadequate inspection of the flight control system during the condition inspection by the check pilot/mechanic.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1998 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MUSTANG II
- Registration
- N7LP · registry record · serial 2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to conduct a biennial flight review. No discrepancies were noted with the flight controls during the preflight inspection, the ensuing taxi to refuel the airplane, or during the run-up and takeoff roll. After takeoff, the pilot could not establish pitch control of the airplane, and was instructed to abort the takeoff. He shutdown the engine and turned off the fuel, master, and ignition switches in preparation for a hard landing. The airplane impacted the runway and ricocheted above the runway; the airplane then stalled and impacted the runway in a wings level attitude. The pilot stated that the push pull torque tube control quadrant was connected to the control yoke through a bellcrank with a bolt, which was housed underneath the fuel selector floorboards. Examination of this area revealed that the bolt was missing, and was not located during the ensuing search. The check pilot was also the mechanic who had conducted the last annual inspection on the airplane the day of the flight. He stated that he had completed a condition inspection of the airplane prior to the biennial flight review and did not recall removing or tightening any bolts in the flight control system area.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 3,700 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1998; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVK at 8:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25R, 5,255 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:12 pm from LVK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.