Amateur-built MUSTANG accident near Millville, New Jersey, June 12, 1982
On June 12, 1982 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built MUSTANG, registered N5497M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millville, New Jersey (Millville airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1982 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Millville, New Jersey · Millville
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MUSTANG
- Registration
- N5497M · no longer on the register · serial 1DB
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PERFORMED SEVERAL HIGH SPEED TAXI TESTS WITH THE TAIL UP. DURING A HIGH SPEED TAXI, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO WEATHER COCK, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED FLIGHT RATHER THAN RISK GROUNDLOOPING THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF FLIGHT THE PILOT SET UP FOR A LANDING; HE STATED THAT HE PULLED THREE NOTCHES OF FLAPS AND MADE A POWER OFF APPROACH.AT APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET THE PILOT BEGAN TO TRANSITION TO THE FLARE, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RESPOND SUFFICIENTLY TO FULL NOSE UP ELEVATOR, THE DESCENT WAS NOT ARRESTED AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO HIS UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT TYPE.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 116 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 69 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Millville NJ at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Millville NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.