Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

July 15, 2007 · North American F-51D · N51TK

Camarillo, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 15, 2007
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Camarillo, CA
Aircraft
North American F-51D
Tail Number
N51TK
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA07LA196

The pilot was making his first supervised solo flight in the same airplane that he received 31.5 hours of dual instruction in the 47 days preceding the accident. The flight instructor who provided the training witnessed the accident and reported that the pilot performed a "normal" takeoff followed by a left pattern to runway 26 with a "normal tail low wheel landing." He noted that as the airplane made contact with the ground, the pilot "had not pulled his throttle back to idle, as the noise level of the engine appeared greater than idle." After rolling 50 to 100 feet, the tail appeared to rise slightly, indicating the pilot was applying slight forward stick to pin the airplane to the ground. This was followed quickly by the rapid lowering of the tail to the point where the tailwheel struck the ground with a "loud bang noise." The airplane then "leaped back into the air" and the pilot applied takeoff power. The airplane pitched nose high and rolled left to the inverted position consistent with a torque induced roll. The upper surface of the left wing contacted the ground first, followed by the propeller and the canopy. The instructor expressed the opinion that the pilot "failed to successfully execute a standard go-around procedure after experiencing unexpected flight due to the lowering of the tail prematurely with power still on after touchdown."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane.

Full Narrative

On July 15, 2007, at 0814 Pacific daylight time, a North American F-51D, N51TK, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain following a loss of control during a go around at the Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo instructional flight, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight had originated from Camarillo Airport about 0808. According to information provided by Camarillo Air Traffic Control Tower personnel, the airplane, with the private pilot and a flight instructor on board, flew into the airport and made a full stop landing. The flight instructor exited the airplane after informing the tower that the pilot would be performing his first solo flight in the airplane. The airplane departed on runway 26, remained in the traffic pattern and returned for a landing on runway 26. Two controllers observed the airplane touch down and then become airborne again. At that point, it appeared to them that the pilot initiated a go around, and the airplane immediately rolled left and impacted the ground beside the runway in an inverted position. The flight instructor reported that he had given the pilot 31.5 hours of dual instruction in the airplane between May 29 and July 14, 2007. After completing the dual instructional flight on July 14, the instructor elected to allow the pilot to solo the airplane the following morning. About 0745 on the day of the accident, they departed Whiteman Airport, Los Angeles, California, in the airplane and proceeded to Camarillo. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 26 and taxied to the ramp adjacent to the run up area for 26. The instructor informed the ground controller that this would be the pilot's first supervised solo in the airplane. He instructed the pilot to perform one full stop landing and taxi back, and he exited the airplane. The instructor watched the pilot perform a "normal" takeoff followed by a left pattern to runway 26 with a "normal tail low wheel landing." He noted that as the airplane made contact with the ground, the pilot "had not pulled his throttle back to idle, as the noise level of the engine appeared greater than idle." After rolling 50 to 100 feet, the tail appeared to rise slightly, indicating the pilot was applying slight forward stick to pin the airplane to the ground. This was followed quickly by the rapid lowering of the tail to the point where the tail wheel struck the ground with a "loud bang noise." The airplane then "leaped back into the air" and the pilot applied take-off power. The airplane pitched nose high and rolled left to the inverted position. The upper surface of the left wing contacted the ground first, followed by the propeller and the canopy. The instructor expressed the opinion that the pilot "failed to successfully execute a standard go around procedure after experiencing unexpected flight due to the lowering of the tail prematurely with power still on after touchdown." The pilot, age 42, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single and multiengine land ratings and an instrument rating. According to FAA records, he had a total flight time of about 2,100 hours. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office. The cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology tests conducted by the FAA's Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide and ethanol. Diphenhyrdamine was detected in blood at 0.121 ug/ml, and acetominophen was detected in urine at 59.39 ug/ml.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:14 PDT
Nearest AirportCamarillo (0nm)
Runway26
Runway Length6013 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftNorth American F-51D
Tail NumberN51TK
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRolls-Royce · V-1650-7 · Reciprocating · 1490
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 42 · Third Class · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 59
Altimeter29.95 inHg
Observation Time14:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data