Nagel SAL 2/3 P51 N51WW

Summary

On 23 September 2008 at about 19:01 local time, a Nagel SAL 2/3 P51 registered N51WW, operated by Northeastern Aero Classics LLC, was involved in an accident near Schenectady, New York, 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

23 September 2008 at 19:01

Classification

Accident

Location

Schenectady, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Schenectedy County Airport (SCH)

Coordinates

42.8514, -73.9239

Aircraft

Nagel SAL 2/3 P51

Registration

N51WW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Northeastern Aero Classics LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Schenectady → Schenectady

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08LA322

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, which led to an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The owner of the amateur built, automotive-engine-powered airplane decided he lacked the experience in tailwheel-equipped airplanes to perform a maintenance flight, and arranged for another pilot to fly the airplane after resolving a rough running engine issue. A review of video footage of the flight revealed that after capturing the takeoff and initial climb, the videographer announced "he's close to a stall," and lowered the camera. The descent and impact were not captured, but the sound of the engine was recorded. Review of the audio track of the video revealed smooth, continuous engine sound until the sounds of impact. According to one witness, the tailwheel was raised almost immediately, and the airplane was airborne after a brief ground roll. The climb was "poor" and the airplane’s altitude above the ground reached only 200 feet, after a 4,000 foot-long initial climb. He said, "The [pitch] attitude of the aircraft was quite high and seemed close to a stall condition." He added that the engine did not "falter" or change power/rpm throughout his observation of the flight. Examination of the wreckage by Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspectors revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.