Amateur-built THUNDER MUSTANG accident near Council, Idaho, October 3, 2014
On October 3, 2014 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2005 amateur-built THUNDER MUSTANG, registered N51TG, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Council, Idaho (Council Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control while maneuvering for landing following a loss of oil pressure. Contributing to the accident was foreign material contamination of the oil system due to improper maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2014 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Council, Idaho · Council Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THUNDER MUSTANG NO SERIES, built 2005
- Registration
- N51TG · no longer on the register · serial EITM027
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/builder had not flown his experimental amateur-built airplane for several months while he performed a top overhaul of the engine. During the first flight after completion of the overhaul, a witness observed the pilot start the airplane, complete an engine run-up, and take off uneventfully. Shortly thereafter, the pilot radioed that he was having an engine oil pressure issue and was returning to the airport. The witness then observed the airplane on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The airplane turned onto the base leg about "1/2 mile closer than normal," and, upon turning onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, began a series of descending S-turns. The airplane then made a "hard" right turn away from the runway and impacted rocky terrain. The airplane was destroyed, and the pilot was fatally injured. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed foreign material in the oil consistent with the remnants of blue paper shop towels. This contamination was likely the cause of a low oil pressure indication. Recorded data indicated that the engine experienced a loss of oil pressure about two minutes before the accident. All other recorded parameters revealed no anomalies, with the engine indicating about 2,000 rpm at the time of impact, which may suggest that the pilot was trying to limit internal damage to the engine by reducing its power setting. Given the witness account of the airplane turning onto the base leg closer than normal, it is possible that the observed s-turns on the final leg of the approach, as well as the turn away from the runway, were an attempt to lose altitude and speed so that the airplane could be landed on the runway. It is likely that the pilot's preoccupation with the low oil pressure indication contributed to a loss of control while maneuvering for landing. Toxicological testing of the pilot was positive for diphenhydramine; however, there was no evidence to suggest that this may have contributed to the accident.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid condition
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Falconer V-12 (piston); 223 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U82 Council ID
- Destination: U82 Council ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from KMYL, 17 miles away
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.