Larry Ketterling FEW P-51 MUSTANG N116LK

Summary

On 1 August 2014 at about 00:30 local time, a Larry Ketterling FEW P-51 MUSTANG registered N116LK was involved in an accident near Lisbon, North Dakota, 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

1 August 2014 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lisbon, North Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Lisbon Municipal Airport (6L3)

Coordinates

46.4972, -97.7581

Aircraft

Larry Ketterling FEW P-51 MUSTANG

Registration

N116LK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lisbon → Lisbon

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14FA400

1 person died.

The partial loss of engine power for a reason that could not be determined because of extensive impact and postcrash fire damage, and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in the airplane's wing exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall/spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting a local flight in the experimental amateur-built airplane. Recorded flight data showed that about 2 minutes before the end of the flight, the airplane's airspeed began to decrease, which was followed by a decrease in altitude. Engine parameters were not recorded. Multiple witnesses reported hearing unusual engine sounds coming from the airplane. One witness reported that the airplane's nose rose slightly, and then the airplane rolled and began a slow spin toward the ground. The witness lost sight of the airplane as it went behind a tree line, and a few seconds later, he saw a plume of smoke. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with regard to the airframe or flight control system. Engine crankshaft and valve train continuity was confirmed. The engine was a converted automobile engine and used electronic ignition and fuel injection components. Testing of the ignition and fuel injection systems was not possible due to the extensive impact and postcrash fire damage. Based on the recorded flight data and witness observations, the airplane's engine lost partial power, resulting in the pilot's inability to maintain the airplane's altitude. As the airplane descended, the pilot allowed the airplane's airspeed to decrease to the point where the wing's angle-of-attack exceeded its critical angle-of-attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall followed by a spin. The stall/spin occurred at an altitude that was too low for recovery. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence.    

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.