North American P51D N51MR

Summary

On 3 September 1989 at about 00:45 local time, a North American P51D registered N51MR, operated by Jackson McGoon Acft Corp., was involved in an accident near Mar Vista, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 September 1989 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Mar Vista, California, United States

Coordinates

33.9995, -118.4290

Aircraft

North American P51D

Registration

N51MR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jackson McGoon Acft Corp.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89FA295

2 people were seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING IN ATTEMPTING TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND NOT FOLLOWING ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER AFTER TAKEOFF. THE FAILURE OF AN INTAKE VALVE WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ENGINE'S NUMBER 5 INTAKE VALVE SEAT BACKED OUT OF THE HEAD IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER OF 3 CYLINDERS. THE PILOT ENTERED A TURN TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH A RESIDENCE. THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL RECOMMENDED A STRAIGHT AHEAD FLIGHT PATH IN THE EVENT OF A POWER LOSS. THE REMAINING 9 CYLINDERS WERE PRODUCING SUFFICIENT POWER TO ENABLE THE AIRCRAFT TO SLOWLY CLIMB ON A STRAIGHT AHEAD FLIGHT PATH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.