# NTSB CEN26FA184: North American F-51D, N251CS, Mound, LA, May 12, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: May 12, 2026, 15:19 local (20:19 UTC) - Place: Mound, LA · Airport - Coordinates: 32.351712, -91.029211 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3517&lon=-91.0292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Jackson FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202975 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26FA184 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202975/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA184 ## Preliminary report On May 12, 2026, at 1519 central daylight time, a North American F-51D airplane, N251CS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at the Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport (TVR), Mound, Louisiana. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses, the pilot was practicing an aerobatic routine. At the conclusion of the planned maneuvers, the pilot performed an additional maneuver and the airplane impacted terrain. Witnesses reported that the engine sounded normal before they heard the sound of impact. One witness, who was in a nearby hangar, reported seeing flying debris after he heard the sound of impact. A witness captured the accident sequence on a cellular phone video. According to a witness and the video, the airplane was seen climbing while conducting a maneuver consistent with a Split-S. While inverted, the airplane entered a dive and continued toward the ground in a nose low attitude. The airplane started a bank to the right just before impacting terrain in a nose level, right-wing-low attitude. The engine is heard throughout the entire video up to the sound of impact. The aerobatic routine was conducted within an FAA approved aerobatic practice area along the west side of runway 18/36 within the boundaries of the aerobatic box defined as a rectangular area 6,200 ft long by 2,600 ft wide, from the surface to 3,000 ft above ground level. The aerobatic practice area was active at the time of the accident. The airplane impacted a drainage embankment about 450 ft west of runway 18/36. The ground scars at the initial impact site were consistent with a high speed, nose level, and right-wing-low attitude. The debris field extended about 920 ft northeast of the initial impact site and was about 200 ft at its widest point. The debris field extended across a 30 ft wide drainage ditch with about 2 to 3 ft of water. All major components of the airplane were found within the debris field. The cockpit and majority of the fuselage were about 520 ft from the initial impact site as seen in Figure 1. A propeller blade was embedded in the ground at the initial impact site. The engine separated from the airframe and was found about 690 ft from the initial impact site. The cockpit came to rest on its right side on a 300° heading. The debris field was generally aligned on a 40° heading. Figure 1. Overview of accident site with major components depicted. Flight control continuity was confirmed for both ailerons, the elevator, and the rudder. Cable separations were consistent with overload separation due to impact damage. The majority of the fuel system was fragmented and destroyed. Both wing tank fuel bladders were breached and contained no fuel; however, fuel blight was present along the debris path on both sides of the drainage ditch. The four propeller blades exhibited leading edge damage and S-bending consistent with the production of engine power atthe time of impact. On site examination of the airframe and engine found no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A Garmin GI275 and GTN650 capable of recording data were collected on-site. The witness video of the accident and recording devices were sent to the NTSB’s Vehicle Recorders laboratory for further investigation. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [North American F-51D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=6402309), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N251CS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N251CS), registered now, S/N 44-74977N (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN F-51D - Registry model: [North American F-51D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-f-51d) (registry code 6402309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pkrd-Roll V1650 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pkrd-roll-v1650-series) (registry code 49001, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-74977N - Year built: 1958 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southern Heritage Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: TVR, Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KTVR - METAR: METAR KTVR 121953Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/14 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP186 T02720139 PWINO $ ## 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 20260512006089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260512006089A), May 12, 2026: North American F-51D, Mound, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. According to witnesses, the pilot was practicing an aerobatic routine. At the conclusion of the planned maneuvers, the pilot performed an additional maneuver… 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.