Hughes Cassutt 111M2 accident near Reno, NV
On September 17, 1998, a Hughes Cassutt 111M2 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Reno, NV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 17, 1998
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Aircraft
- Hughes Cassutt 111M2 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 39.490°N, 119.840°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X11105
Official records · LAX98LA295
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT 0n September, 17, 1998, at 0940 hours Pacific daylight time, a Hughes Cassutt 111M2, N94HA, collided with the ground while on base leg for landing at the Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The airplane was participating in the Reno National Championship Air Races and being operated by its owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane completed an International Formula One (IF1) heat race and was on approach for landing at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage in the ground collision sequence and the airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan was filed. Witnesses stated several airplanes were sequencing for landing after the conclusion of heat 1C for IF1 airplanes. N94HA was number four in the pattern for right traffic runway 26. The first two airplanes landed successfully. The third airplane was closing on the airplane ahead and the pilot elected to do a left 360-degree turn and reenter the landing pattern. A witness stated that the third airplane had completed approximately 140 to 160 degrees of the left turn when he noticed N94HA at the beginning of its base leg for landing. Witnesses indicated N94HA started up and right, then instantly entered a nearly vertical, rolling dive. A witness near the impact site heard the engine "rev like it was going to pull up". PERSONNEL INFORMATION Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicated the pilot was an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, Air Carrier Operations. He held an airline transport
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin while maneuvering in gusty wind conditions, which led to an inadvertent stall/spin at low altitude.
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Browse: Nevada
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
