Cochran County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morton, Texas 79346
Tuesady, April 22, 2014 10:55 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the accident occurred during the third flight test of the recently completed amateur-built airplane. The pilot stated that there were no anomalies with the airplane during his preflight inspection or before-takeoff engine run-up. After an uneventful takeoff, he proceeded to a nearby practice area where he completed basic flight maneuvers and measured cruise performance parameters before returning to the airport for a full-stop landing. Upon returning to the airport, the pilot decided to land on runway 22 because it was longer and wider than the other runway, and the prevailing wind from the south-southwest favored either runway. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and then veered off the left side of the runway before the pilot could regain control. The airplane subsequently nosed over after encountering soft terrain located alongside the runway. Postaccident wreckage examinations revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of available wind data indicated that a gusting left crosswind component of 9 to 14 knots existed during the landing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper landing flare after encountering a gusting crosswind and his inadequate recovery from the subsequent bounced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/22/2014
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1055
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Morton
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79346
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334345N
Event Location Longitude 1024402W
Event Location Airport Cochran County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID F85
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3746
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID MNST
Elevation of weather observation facility 3754
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 162
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33051
NTSB Notification Source Central Region Duty Officer, M
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2014 9:42AM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48MK
NTSB Number CEN14LA213
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CROW
Aircraft Model MUSTANG II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number MII2129
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 Jan 4 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Fred N. Crow
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MORTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79346
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Fred N. Crow
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MORTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 79346
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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) Flight Test
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code F85
Departure City Morton
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code F85
Destination City Morton
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2014 9:42AM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 2710
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --