# NTSB CEN21LA309: Titan T-51D, N15180, Ashtabula, OH, July 6, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 6, 2021, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Ashtabula, OH - Coordinates: 41.89, -80.79 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8900&lon=-80.7900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103439 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103439/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103439 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA309 ## Probable cause The tripped engine control computer circuit breaker caused by an excessive electrical load on the system, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power during the initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine indicating system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057700): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Myron Oleson T-51D MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057700/cases.md?model=05638GX), [All aircraft, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057700/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Myron Oleson T-51D MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05638GX), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Myron Oleson T-51D MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05638GX), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Myron Oleson T-51D MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05638GX), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Myron Oleson T-51D MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05638GX), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Myron Oleson T-51D MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05638GX), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The intent of the flight was to perform fuel flow and fuel indicator checks on the newly built airplane while taxiing on the ground; however, they were not able to obtain full engine performance on the ground and the pilot elected to take the airplane into the air. After takeoff, while climbing through 200 ft above ground level (agl), the engine lost power. The operator reported that the engine computer circuit breaker had tripped which resulted in the loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to reset the circuit breaker and restart the engine without success. The airplane landed hard on the runway and the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination showed that the oxygen sensors used to tune the engine were left on the engine’s cylinder exhaust pipes during the flight. The sensors drew power from the engine’s control computer. During the initial climb, the increased electrical demand to run the oxygen sensors at maximum engine power exceeded the 15-ampere limit on the engine’s control computer, its circuit breaker to tripped, and the engine lost power. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2021, about 1445 central daylight time, a Titan T-51D airplane, N15180, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ashtabula, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 test flight. The intent of the flight was to perform fuel flow and fuel indicator checks on the newly-built airplane while taxiing on the ground; however, they were not able to obtain full engine performance on the ground and the pilot elected to take the airplane into the air. After takeoff, while climbing through 200 ft agl, the engine lost power. The pilot reported that the engine computer circuit breaker had tripped and the engine lost power. He attempted to reset the circuit breaker and restart the engine, but the circuit breaker would not reset. The pilot nosed the airplane over to maintain an airspeed of 75 mph and landed on the remaining part of the 5,900-ft runway; however, a high sink rate developed. The airplane landed on the runway hard, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The airplane’s owner reported that, before the flight, oxygen sensors were installed on the cylinders’ exhaust pipes to determine if the engine was running rich or lean. The sensors received their power from the engine computer. After the accident, data from the Garmin flight director showed increased electrical demand during the maintenance engine runs. During these runs, maximum engine power was never attained due to the inability to secure the airplane in place. The sensors were left installed to collect inflight engine performance information. During the initial climb, the increased engine power placed an increased electrical load on the engine’s control computer that exceeded its 15-ampere rating which tripped the circuit breaker and resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15180](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15180-2026-10-05), registration cancelled 2026-10-05, S/N M12HV6COHK0180, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TITAN T-51D - Registry model: [Myron Oleson T-51D MUSTANG](https://openairdocs.org/model/myron-oleson-t-51d-mustang) (registry code 05638GX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M12HV6COHK0180 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 4 - Engines: General Motors LS376-495 480 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Oleson Myron D - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 25, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: HZY, Northeast Ohio Regional, runway 27, 5,900 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 30, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KHZY, 8 nm away - METAR: KHZY 061853Z AUTO 27015G19KT 10SM FEW050 31/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP158 T03060217 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20210706012719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210706012719A), Jul 6, 2021: Myron Oleson T-51D MUSTANG, Ashtabula, OH, Substantial damage. Pilot was performing a crow hop on rwy 27 to check the engine for fuel starvation. Pilot took off on rwy 27 and climbed to 200'. Upon reaching 200' the pilot… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103439. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15811192&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Oleson_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record, FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16056451&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Convesation,%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record, airplane owner (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15824699&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation,%20Airplane%20Owner-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 975 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15803526&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array,%20Ashtabula,%20OH-Rel.pdf - Airplane owner's supplemental statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15804615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N15180%20ATQA%20Paragraph-Rel.pdf - Airplane data (item 6, XLS, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15803536&FileExtension=xls&FileName=N15180%20Crash%20Data-Rel.xls - Titan T-51 specifications (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16056461&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Titan%20Aircraft%20T51D%20Mustang%20Specifications-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.