Amateur-built Murphy Moose accident near Galt, California, June 1, 2013
On June 1, 2013 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Murphy Moose, registered N331RW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Galt, California (Mustang Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in an abnormal runway contact.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2013 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Galt, California · Mustang Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Murphy Moose Aeromooses
- Registration
- N331RW · no longer on the register · serial RW-108
- 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 he had flown into the airport previously, but never in the accident airplane. While on final approach, he noticed power lines between his position and the runway, and he "pulled back" on the pitch control to overfly the power lines. The pilot continued the approach and landing, but in the flare, the airplane "dropped and bounced." When the airplane was airborne after the bounce, he added power to initiate a go-around. However, the airplane did not climb as expected, and he was experiencing directional control problems. The pilot reduced power, and landed the airplane in a field adjacent to the runway. During the rollout in the field, the pilot noticed a ditch ahead of him, perpendicular to his direction of travel, and about 5 to 10 feet wide. He added power to attempt to fly over the ditch, but the main gear struck the far side of the ditch, which damaged the landing gear and fuselage structure. The airplane came to rest about two to three airplane lengths beyond the ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage, right wing, and empennage, including the rudder control system. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Altitude deviation during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,092 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,597 as pilot in command; 1,065 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 31 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 7, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVF Placerville CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 2CL9 Galt CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from MHR, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.