Thursday, February 04, 2016

North American P-51C Mustang, N61429: Incident occurred November 04, 2021 and Accident occurred February 03, 2016

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida

November 04, 2021:  Aircraft veered off Runway 9 on landing at Tallahassee International Airport (KTLH), Leon County, Florida.

American Air Power Heritage Flying Museum


Date: 04-NOV-21
Time: 19:15:00Z
Regis#: N61429
Aircraft Make: NORTH AMERICAN
Aircraft Model: P51C
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: TALLAHASSEE
State: FLORIDA

November 04, 2021

November 04, 2021


The Tuskegee Airmen exhibit is still on after one of its P-51 Mustangs was involved in a minor crash at Tallahassee International Airport Thursday.

The pilot of the plane was not injured after he left the runway while landing.

While smaller planes could still come and go, all commercial air traffic in or out of Tallahassee was suspended for more than three hours while a crane was mobilized to remove the broken plane and clear the runway.

“It basically went off the runway and came to rest on the side of the runway. There appears to be some damage to the landing gear,” Deputy Director of Aviation Jim Durwin said. “It’s in one piece.”

He did not have an exact tally of how many flights into or out of Tallahassee were delayed but said by the time the airport closed, all had left or arrived. 

“Flights held where they were,” Durwin said. “One flight was diverted to Panama City.”

Durwin said airport officials have been in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board. He said the owners of the aircraft were working with federal officials and maintenance crews on repairing the plane as well as completing an investigation. 

Durwin said he was appreciative of first responders and airport staff who quickly cleared the runway and ensured safety.

One piece of good news is, the Rise Above Traveling Exhibit, will go on. It's an opportunity to learn and experience the story of the Tuskegee Airmen while being immersed in a theatrical experience. The exhibit runs through Saturday

“The Red Tails exhibit is still going on as planned,” Durwin said. “But that aircraft is not going to be there as part of the display.”

The exhibit includes a mobile "big" screen theater with a customized 53 -inch trailer with expandable sides that houses a 160-degree panoramic curved movie screen. It showcases a short original movie, "Rise Above," focusing on what the Tuskegee Airmen had to overcome to be allowed to fly and fight for their country during World War II.

Large groups are requested to register in advance by calling Elizabeth Hyman at 850-205-0393 or emailing ehyman@nflwc.com. The event is being held in the Flightline Group hangar located at 3256 Capital Circle, NW, at Tallahassee International Airport.

Tallahassee is the only city in America to host this event for more than 10 years and over 20,000 people have taken advantage of this experience. 









Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Irving, Texas 

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

American Air Power Heritage Flying Museum


Location: Dallas, Texas
Accident Number: GAA16CA133
Date & Time: February 3, 2016, 11:00 Local 
Registration: N61429
Aircraft: North American P 51 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Landing gear not configured
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot reported that he landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.

According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot further reported that this accident could have been prevented with a "higher degree" of diligence to checklists.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage during landing.

Findings

Aircraft Gear extension and retract sys - Not used/operated
Personnel issues Use of checklist - Pilot
Personnel issues Task monitoring/vigilance - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing Landing gear not configured (Defining event)
Landing Abnormal runway contact
Landing Runway excursion

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial Age: 51, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: August 20, 2015
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: May 10, 2014
Flight Time: (Estimated) 1815 hours (Total, all aircraft), 187 hours (Total, this make and model), 5.8 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: North American 
Registration: N61429
Model/Series: P51C 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1942 
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Limited (Special) 
Serial Number: 103-26199
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Annual 
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 10500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: ROLLS ROYCE
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: V-1650-7
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 1497 Horsepower
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KRBD,658 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 16:50 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 314°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Visibility:   10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 13 knots / 22 knots 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  / None
Wind Direction: 330°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.21 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C / -4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Dallas, TX (RBD)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Dallas, TX (RBD)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 10:15 Local 
Type of Airspace: Class D

Airport Information

Airport: DALLAS EXECUTIVE RBD
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 659 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 35
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3800 ft / 150 ft 
VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop; Traffic pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor 
Latitude, Longitude: 32.679443,-96.866111(est)













The pilot of a World War II-era P-51C Mustang is OK after making an emergency belly landing at Dallas Executive Airport Wednesday morning.

Dallas-Fire Rescue confirms the plane landed at about 10:30 a.m. with its gears retracted.  The plane apparently skidded off the runway  and onto a grassy area where the prop detached from the plane's body.

The P-51 is a single-seat fighter and was being piloted by Bill Shepard, who was not injured in the emergency landing.

Shepard was landing back at Dallas Executive for a special event in honor of Black History Month when the emergency occurred, according to the Commemorative Air Force, who owns the plane and is based out of the South Dallas airfield.

"Earlier today, the CAF Red Tail Squadron's P-51C experienced a gear-up landing at Dallas Executive Airport,” said Stephan C. Brown, president and CEO of the CAF. “Pilot and Squadron Leader Bill Shepard was uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but we will start the restoration process shortly. As with the Tuskegee Airmen she honors, this airplane will 'Rise Above' to 'Triumph Over Adversity' and fly again. We appreciate the many messages of concern received today."

Records obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration indicate the aircraft was built in 1942 and that the owner is the American Air Power Heritage Flying Museum, the former name of the CAF. 

The P-51C was donated to the CAF in 1988 and was restored as a Red Tail over a period of several years. It was christened the Tuskegee Airmen and returned to the skies in 2001. In 2004 the plane suffered an engine failure and crashed, killing pilot Don Hinz, according to the CAF's online documentation of the aircraft. Following the fatal crash the aircraft was once again "restored rivet by rivet" before flying again in 2009.

CAF spokesman Adam Smith said the pilot was on a regular proficiency flight when the incident happened. He told NBC 5 they plan to again repair the aircraft and get it flying.

Officials have not given any other details on what may have gone wrong with the aircraft or why a belly landing was necessary. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Officials with the city of Dallas tweeted that a crane will be used to remove the damaged aircraft from the airfield and that the runways should reopen to traffic at about 1:15 p.m.

Story, video and photo gallery:  http://www.nbcdfw.com

3 comments:

  1. Looks like the prop blades are still straight which would imply they weren't turning at impact, so that might mean engine failure of some sort. Thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I believe it was a planned belly landing due to an unsafe gear condition? In that event it is standard procedure to shut the engine off and feather the prop prior to touchdown to try to minimize damage to the engine and prop. In this case it looks like departure from the runway and rough or uneven ground made the plane bounce or rock enough that the prop struck something solid and detached

    ReplyDelete
  3. Read the report on the accident here.

    http://www.aero-news.net/aNNTicker.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=748d9cca-12a4-4ee0-9413-483de8479059

    ReplyDelete