NTSB Factual Report

On September 3, 2007, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, an American Air Racing, LTD, Thunder Mustang, N351F, was destroyed by fire during an aborted takeoff at the Reno/Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The airplane was owned and operated by the airline transport certificated pilot, and he was not injured during the personal flight in his experimental, amateur built airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The local area flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot indicated that he commenced the takeoff ground roll within a few hundred feet west of runway 26's threshold. Runway 26 is 7,608 feet long and 150 feet wide. As the 1,000-horsepower engine accelerated the airplane down the runway, the pilot observed that the airspeed indicator was inoperative. The pilot quickly evaluated his go, no-go options, and he decided to abort the takeoff; the airplane was still on the ground although its tail was already raised.

The pilot reported that he applied the brakes, and the airplane decelerated from about 100 miles per hour while tracking down the runway. By the time the airplane reached the runway's departure end, the brakes had overheated, and the rate of deceleration decreased. The airplane came to a stop in a field an estimated 300 to 400 feet beyond the runway's end. The pilot reported that the right brake was so hot that a fire erupted when it contacted sage brush. The fire quickly spread and within a few minutes destroyed the airplane.

The pilot reported that he was preparing to participate in the upcoming Reno Air Races.

NTSB Probable Cause

Fire resulting from vegetation contacting hot brakes following an aborted takeoff.