Bushby designed an alternative non-retractable tricycle landing gear for the Mustang II, and amateur constructors have the option of either configuration. Probable Cause: The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's structural limitations while conducting previous aerobatic maneuvers, which resulted in an in-flight breakup of the airplane. Construction of a prototype began in 1965 and it flew for the first time on 9 July 1966. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the pilot previously exceeded the airplane's structural limits, which led to the in-flight separation of the vertical stabilizer and canopy.

Metallurgical examination of the vertical stabilizer revealed ratchet marks along the internal edge of the aft doubler rib consistent with stress and multiple fatigue cracks. During the descent and just before impact, the outboard section of the right horizontal stabilizer separated.Įxamination of the canopy frame revealed that it had separated due to overstress and that it did not have reinforcing gussets installed per a kit manufacturer canopy frame revision issued in 1984. Shortly thereafter, the canopy and vertical stabilizer separated, and the airplane subsequently descended nose down and impacted terrain. ZULU L L1P BUSHBY M-2 Mustang 2 CF-5 F5 M L2J MUS2 L L1P CF-104 Starfighter F104 M L1J Midget Mustang MIMU L L1P CF-116 F5 M L2J MM-1 Midget Mustang. The airplane owner stated that, after the pilot departed for the accident flight, the pilot flew over the local area for about 15 minutes and then performed a barrel roll. Additionally, two videos provided by a witness showed the airplane making two high-speed, low passes over the airport earlier on the day of the accident. Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)Īccident investigation report completed and information capturedĪccording to a previous owner of the experimental, amateur-built airplane, the pilot had flown aerobatic maneuvers in the airplane about 1 week before the accident, during which he exceeded the airplane's never exceed speed of 230 mph by between about 20 to 25 mph.

Mus2 bushby mustang ii