Amateur-built Bushby Mustang II and amateur-built Lazer accident near W Hampton Beach, New York, October 7, 2001
On October 7, 2001 at about 5:56 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built Bushby Mustang II (N224HP) and amateur-built Lazer (N230HB), were involved in the same accident near W Hampton Beach, New York (Francis S Gabreski Airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadequate visual lookout during taxi by the pilot of the other airplane.
The pilot's inadequate lookout during the taxi.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2001 · about 5:56 pm local time
- Place
- W Hampton Beach, New York · Francis S Gabreski Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built Bushby Mustang II
- Registration
- N224HP · registry record · serial 1242
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built Lazer
- Registration
- N230HB · registry record · serial HB-1
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built Bushby Mustang II final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of two tailwheel-equipped airplanes landed on the same runway, with one following the other, and cleared the runway at the same taxiway. Both had received taxi instructions to cross an intersecting runway and taxi to parking on the other side. The pilot of the first airplane thought he heard his radio call sign being used by the control tower for an airplane still on the runway, and elected to hold short of the intersecting runway until his position could be verified with the control tower. He tried to contact the control tower, but was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the pilot of the second airplane continued ahead on the taxiway, toward the first airplane. The pilot of the second airplane was unaware that the pilot of the first airplane had stopped on the taxiway centerline and was holding short of the intersecting runway. The pilot of the second airplane reported he was taxiing with a locked tail wheel due to a crosswind, and could not see over the nose of his airplane. He also reported he was making shallow "S" turns. However, he did not see the airplane ahead of him on the taxiway until it was too late to stop. He applied the brakes as the left wing of his airplane struck the rudder of the stopped airplane from behind.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built Lazer final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of two tailwheel-equipped airplanes landed on the same runway, with one following the other, and cleared the runway at the same taxiway. Both had received taxi instructions to cross an intersecting runway and taxi to parking on the other side. The pilot of the first airplane thought he heard his radio call sign being used by the control tower for an airplane still on the runway, and elected to hold short of the intersecting runway until his position could be verified with the control tower. He tried to contact the control tower, but was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the pilot of the second airplane continued ahead on the taxiway, toward the first airplane. The pilot of the second airplane was unaware that the pilot of the first airplane had stopped on the taxiway centerline and was holding short of the intersecting runway. The pilot of the second airplane reported he was taxiing with a locked tail wheel due to a crosswind, and could not see over the nose of his airplane. He also reported he was making shallow "S" turns. However, he did not see the airplane ahead of him on the taxiway, until it was too late to stop. He applied the brakes as the left wing of his airplane struck the rudder of the stopped airplane from behind.
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 for the amateur-built Bushby Mustang II from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 690 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 623 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 11, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 330 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 3, 2001; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GFL Glens Falls NY at 4:15 pm
- Destination: FOK W Hampton Beach NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from FOK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built Lazer from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,576 hours in all; 221 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2,425 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 30, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 161 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 24, 2001; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FOK W Hampton Beach NY at 5:42 pm
- Destination: W Hampton Beach NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
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.