James Browning MIDGET MUSTANG-I N114JB

Summary

On 9 July 2000 at about 15:33 local time, a James Browning MIDGET MUSTANG-I registered N114JB was involved in an accident near Waycross, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 July 2000 at 15:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Waycross, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Waycross (AYS)

Coordinates

31.2104, -82.3506

Aircraft

James Browning MIDGET MUSTANG-I

Registration

N114JB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Albany

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA00LA210

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's failure to maintain control during initial climb that resulted in the aircraft colliding with the ground and incurring damage. A factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention, when he inadvertently knocked the spectacles off his face while adjusting his headset.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness, a licensed aviation mechanic who observed the aircraft during the takeoff, stated that about 300 feet above ground level, the aircraft pitched nose up and entered an abrupt roll, followed by a 60- to 70-degree bank. The witness also said that the aircraft had lost altitude and airspeed during the maneuver, and it impacted the ground, and was destroyed. He stated that the airplane did not appear to malfunction, but it looked as if the pilot either pitched the nose up and stalled the airplane, or attempted a snap roll maneuver at a low altitude, and did not recover prior to impacting the ground. The witness later represented the FAA, and examined the accident airplane, and found that there was continuity to all flight control surfaces. The pilot stated that during initial climb, his headset wire was restricting his head movement, and while adjusting the headset, he accidentally knocked his spectacles off, and lost control of the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.