Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Columbia, California 95310
Sunday, June 27, 2010 9:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental amateur-built airplane had been airborne for approximately 30 minutes on its inaugural flight when the engine stopped producing power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, and during the landing the main landing gear separated from the fuselage, causing the fuselage to wrinkle and bend. Postaccident examination of the engine's electronic ignition module revealed that it was partially melted. The electronic module had been mounted approximately 5 inches from the engine's exhaust pipe due to lack of clearance between the top of the engine and its cowling. The installation manual for the module states that the maximum ambient temperature for the electronic module is 175 degrees Fahrenheit.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power during approach due to thermal damage to the engine's electronic ignition module. Contributing to the accident was the builder’s placement of the ignition module near the engine’s exhaust.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/27/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Columbia
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95310
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 375959N
Event Location Longitude 1202736W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 227
Weather Observation Facility ID MOD
Elevation of weather observation facility 89
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 32
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.81
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28478
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 7 2011 5:47PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N751RM
NTSB Number WPR10LA316
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 McGlashan
Aircraft Model T-51 Mustang
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number MLS08912SOHK0137
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jun 23 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 1
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Richard L. McGlashan
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Round Rock
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78665
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Richard L. McGlashan
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Round Rock
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78665
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 E45
Departure City Groveland
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code O22
Destination City Columbia
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 7 2011 5:47PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --