NTSB Factual Report

On April 16, 1994, about 1715 hours Pacific daylight time, the pilot of a Bushby Mustang II, N363RD, lost control after an in-flight breakup and collided with the terrain in a marsh 2 miles east of Byron, California. The airplane was destroyed. The certificated private pilot and student pilot passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated in Livermore, California, at 1630 hours. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported the airplane in level flight about 1,000 feet above ground level. The witnesses reported hearing the engine accelerate followed by an abrupt steep vertical climb. The airplane's wings then separated and the airplane descended uncontrolled and collided with the terrain.

Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported the airplane's wings, canopy, both seats, and the horizontal stabilizer came to rest about 500 yards east of the fuselage. The inspectors reported they were unable to locate the vertical stabilizer during the on-scene wreckage examination. The FAA provided photographs (attached) depicting the damage to tail section.

NTSB Probable Cause

an abrupt maneuver by the pilot that initiated an in-flight separation of the tail and wing sections during acrobatic flight.