Amateur-built MIDJET MUSTANG I accident near Ramona, California, April 10, 2011
On April 10, 2011 at about 3:28 pm local time, a amateur-built MIDJET MUSTANG I, registered N611JB, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ramona, California (Ramona 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 inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to the overload separation of the left brake master cylinder from the left rudder pedal assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2011 · about 3:28 pm local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · Ramona Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MIDJET MUSTANG I
- Registration
- N611JB · registry record · serial 500
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while conducting a series of touch-and-go takeoffs and landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, he heard a loud snap sound during his third takeoff followed by the upper left rudder pedal collapsing. The pilot verified that he had rudder control and noticed that the upper left rudder pedal seemed displaced forward of its normal position. He further noticed that the left rudder pedal was binding at various times, but overall was operational, and thus suspected that the left brake master cylinder had disconnected from the rudder pedal. The pilot said that every time he applied left rudder during the landing the airplane veered to the left as if left brake was being applied. Despite his control inputs, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and nosed over within the soft muddy terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left brake master cylinder was separated from the left rudder pedal at the rudder attach point. Examination of the left rudder pedal and master cylinder revealed that the left rudder pedal was fractured at the lug where it attached to the upper end of the brake master cylinder. The fracture surface was consistent with an overstress fracture. The fracture surface was examined by an NTSB metallurgist using a scanning electron microscope and no evidence of fatigue or other progressive crack growth was observed. The lower surface of the brake master cylinder attachment lug on the left rudder pedal had an impression corresponding to contact with the lower end of the clevis of the left master brake cylinder attachment fitting. A similar impression was observed on the lower surface of the brake master cylinder attachment lug on the right rudder pedal. Deformation consistent with contacting the lower surface of the rudder pedal lugs was observed at the base of the clevis in the upper attachment fittings of both the left and right brake master cylinders.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Master cylinder/brake valve › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,245 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 7, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 153 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 16, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,125 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNM Romona CA at 3:10 pm
- Destination: RNM Romona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KRNM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.