North American P-51D N2869D
3 July 2003 · Jerome, Idaho, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 3 July 2003 at about 17:00 local time, a North American P-51D registered N2869D was involved in an accident near Jerome, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Jerome, Idaho, United States
- Nearest airport
- Jerome County (JER)
- Coordinates
- 42.7167, -114.4619
- Aircraft
- North American P-51D
- Registration
- N2869D
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Jerome → Pocatello
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA03LA202
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The malfunction of the cooling system pressure relief valve and the pilot's failure to follow procedures. An engine over temperature, a coolant leak as a result of a relief valve failure, an obstructed windshield which was covered with coolant fluid, and an improper flare resulting in a hard landing were factors.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine overheated, then lost coolant. The coolant covered the windshield and he had a hard time seeing in front of him for the return to the airport for landing. During the touchdown, the aircraft landed hard and slid off the side of the runway. During an inspection by maintenance personnel, it was found that the left wing spar was bent and required replacement. It was also found that the relief valve to the aftercooling system header tank failed, subsequently releasing the coolant. The aftercooling system is of the low pressure type, incorporating a relief valve which relieves at approximately 18 to 20 pounds per square inch. The flight manual states in several areas for start, ground operations and takeoff to closely monitor coolant temperatures to prevent overheating.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other North American P-51D accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2005 | North American P-51D | Tarkio, Missouri, United States | Harry O. Barr | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 2005 | North American P-51D | Minden, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 2008 | North American P-51D | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Feb 1996 | North American P-51D | Palm City, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Apr 1994 | North American P-51D | Chino, California, United States | Michael Clarke | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1994 | North American P-51D | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Aug 2003 | Piper PA-28-180 | Nampa, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Sep 2003 | Beechcraft T-34 (A-45) | McCall, Idaho, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 2003 | Globe GC-1B | Cottonwood, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 2003 | Wood AVID MAGNUM | Kooskia, Idaho, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Nov 2003 | Kaman K-600 | Nordman, Idaho, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jun 2003 | Aviat A-1 | Atlanta, Idaho, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |