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November 17, 1984 · North American P-51D · N51JL
New Haven, MI
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 17, 1984
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
New Haven, MI
Aircraft
North American P-51D
Tail Number
N51JL
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI85FA050
THE ACFT, A NORTH AMERICAN P51D, CRASHED INTO A POTATO FIELD AFTER STRIKING AN ELECTRICAL WIRE RUNNING AT A RT ANGLE TO THE GROUND TRACK, STRUCK THE GROUND, A BUILDING & DISINTEGRATED. THE PLT & OWNER OF THE ACFT WAS A 50 YR OLD EX-NAVAL AVIATOR WITH CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN HIGH PERFORMANCE HEAVY ACFT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFICATED & THE ACFT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFIED. AN AUTOPSY PERFORMED ON THE PLT, WHO WAS ALSO A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN, REVEALED ADVANCED ARTERIOSCLEROTIC HEART DISEASE & A HISTORY OF TREATMENT FOR HIGH BLOOD PREESURE. LASTLY, DURING THE PERIOD PRECEEDING THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT WAS EXPERIENCING STRESS FROM THE DEATH OF A GOOD FRIEND IN ANOTHER ACFT ACCIDENT & A RECENT ILLNESS OF HIS OWN.
Full Narrative
THE ACFT, A NORTH AMERICAN P51D, CRASHED INTO A POTATO FIELD AFTER STRIKING AN ELECTRICAL WIRE RUNNING AT A RT ANGLE TO THE GROUND TRACK, STRUCK THE GROUND, A BUILDING & DISINTEGRATED. THE PLT & OWNER OF THE ACFT WAS A 50 YR OLD EX-NAVAL AVIATOR WITH CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN HIGH PERFORMANCE HEAVY ACFT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFICATED & THE ACFT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFIED. AN AUTOPSY PERFORMED ON THE PLT, WHO WAS ALSO A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN, REVEALED ADVANCED ARTERIOSCLEROTIC HEART DISEASE & A HISTORY OF TREATMENT FOR HIGH BLOOD PREESURE. LASTLY, DURING THE PERIOD PRECEEDING THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT WAS EXPERIENCING STRESS FROM THE DEATH OF A GOOD FRIEND IN ANOTHER ACFT ACCIDENT & A RECENT ILLNESS OF HIS OWN.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:53 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftNorth American P-51D
Tail NumberN51JL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsPackard R.R. · 1650-7 · Reciprocating · 1445
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 12 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingOvercast 4000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time14:00
Weather SourceWIT