LANCASTER, CA, USA
N13JL
SONS MUSTANG II
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THE AIRCRAFT TO A PROSPECTIVE BUYER. ABOUT 20 TO 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT IN A CIRCLING DESCENT. AT 500 TO 700 FT AGL, THE DESCENT ANGLE SUDDENLY INCREASED TO NEARLY VERTICAL AND THE PLANE CRASHED. ONE WITNESS NOTED A CONSPICUOUS ABSENCE OF ENGINE NOISE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SHAFT ON THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS BROKEN BETWEEN THE SELECTOR HANDLE AND THE INTERNAL MECHANISM OF THE VALUE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE SHAFT HAD BEEN PARTIALLY BROKEN FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. TRACES OF FUEL WERE EVIDENT AT THE LEFT AND RIGHT INLET PORTS TO THE VALVE. HOWEVER, NO FUEL WAS EVIDENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, FORWARD FROM THE FUEL SELECTOR. A TEARDOWN DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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