Austin Air Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Spicewood, Texas 78669
Monday, August 14, 1989 8:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FEMALE VICTIM WAS RIDING A GALLUPING HORSE ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY AS THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A SERIES OF TAKE OFFS, LANDINGS, AND TOUCH AND GOES. THIS HAD BEEN ARRANGED BY THE VICTIM FOR A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER TO TAKE PICTURES OF HER, AS SHE AND HER HORSE WERE PASSED BY THE AIRPLANE OVERTAKING HER FROM BEHIND. THE HORSE AND RIDER WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, BETWEEN THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT ON THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH PASS, A 'POPPING SOUND' WAS HEARD AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED. HE 'ASSUMED' THAT INDICATED CONTACT BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE WING AND THE VICTIM'S HEAD. HE ALSO OBSERVED THE RIDER, WHO 'APPEARED TO BE UNCONSCIOUS' FALL OFF OF THE HORSE AS IT CONTINUED TO RUN. THE AIRPORT MANAGER DID NOT SEE THE MISHAP, BUT HEARD A 'LOUD THUMP.' THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S WRITTEN AFFIDAVIT STATED IN PART THAT THE AIRPLANE 'VEERED OFF COURSE AND STRUCK JAMIE WHICH IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 8/14/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SPICEWOOD
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78669
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport AUSTIN AIR RANCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 88R
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 830
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 1354 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID AUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 632
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2312
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42383
Date of most recent change to record Jan 9 2004 1:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N123WP
NTSB Number FTW89DRG09
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MCCORMICK
Aircraft Model BUSHBY MUSTANG II
Aircraft Series Identifier BUSHBY MUS
Aircraft Serial Number 195
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 21 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 943
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES J. WALTERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 206 N. MARKET
Aircraft Owner City BANHAM
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77833
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code 88R
Departure City SPICEWOOD
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 9 2004 1:59PM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --