Just Plane Fun Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nacogdoches, Texas 75963
Saturday, May 4, 1991 14:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE TAKEOFF ON THE 3,000 FOOT LONG SOD STRIP, THE AIRPLANE GOT AIRBORNE AFTER ABOUT 1,000 FEET OF ROLL. AT THREE TO FIVE FEEL AGL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND 'IMMEDIATELY THE PLANE DROPPED TO THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES OFF TO THE LEFT.' THE PILOT PULLED THE NOSE UP IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD BUT IMPACTED A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING. TERRAIN IMPACT OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. A REPLACEMENT BENDIX HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE STARTER BENDIX WAS FOUND STILL ENGAGED TO THE FLYWHEEL DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BY FAA INSPECTORS. EXAMINATION OF THE BRUSH HOUSING AND ARMATURE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF AN OVERHEATING CONDITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

POWER LOSS DUE TO ENGINE STARTER FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/4/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City NACOGDOCHES
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75963
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JUST PLANE FUN AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TE52
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 237
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1231
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44336
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N43WM
NTSB Number FTW91DRA02
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name W. R. MATHIS
Aircraft Model MIDGET MUSTANG
Aircraft Series Identifier MIDGET MUS
Aircraft Serial Number MB-1250
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM R. MATHIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 900 GROVE
Aircraft Owner City LUFKIN
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75901
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM R. MATHIS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 900 GROVE
Operator City LUFKIN
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75901
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --