War Replicas P-51 N51K

Summary

On 4 February 1989 at about 23:45 local time, a War Replicas P-51 registered N51K was involved in an accident near Tracy, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 February 1989 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Tracy, California, United States

Nearest airport

Tracy (036)

Coordinates

37.7306, -121.4195

Aircraft

War Replicas P-51

Registration

N51K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tracy → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89DVD02

1 person died.

THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE AILERON CONTROLS OF THIS HOMEBUILT ACFT BY THE PILOT/MANUFACTURER WHICH LED TO THE INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A LOCAL TEST FLIGHT, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE HALF-SCALE P-51 AIRPLANE WHILE TURNING FROM DOWNWIND TO BASE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE AILERON CONTROL BELLCRANK WAS NOT INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RECORDS HELD BY THE PILOT/MANUFACTURER. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING BOTH AILERONS AND THE WINGS FLUTTERING BEFORE THE CRASH. EVIDENCE INDICATED AILERON OVERTRAVEL. THE COCKPIT CONTROL STICK WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH CONTROL TRAVEL STOPS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.