Amateur-built BUSHBY MUSTANG II N929DS accident near Granbury, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain.

NTSB analysis

Witnesses observed the airplane takeoff, and level off as it flew down the runway at a low altitude. It then entered a steep nose-up climb, followed by a sudden roll to the right and a steep nose-down descent. Video images from a security camera, showed the airplane descended at about 20° to 30° nose-down attitude until it impacted the terrain. Examination of the wreckage did not find any anomalies that would have contributed to the accident. Signatures on the propeller were consistent with the propeller being driven during the impact sequence. A review of the pilot's video camera found recordings of similar maneuvers that had a right rolling tendency during the airplane's recovery to level flight. The circumstances of the accident were consistent with the pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a steep climb resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN15FA422 for the full record.