# NTSB CHI85FA050: North American P-51D, N51JL, New Haven, MI, November 17, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 17, 1984, 13:53 local (18:53 UTC)
- Place: New Haven, MI
- Coordinates: 42.729591, -82.790626 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7296&lon=-82.7906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12810
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12810/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FA050

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - wire,static (contributing factor)
  - descent - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - physical impairment(hypertension), pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering

## Analysis

THE ACFT, A NORTH AMERICAN P51D, CRASHED INTO A POTATO FIELD AFTER STRIKING AN ELECTRICAL WIRE RUNNING AT A RT ANGLE TO THE GROUND TRACK, STRUCK THE GROUND, A BUILDING & DISINTEGRATED. THE PLT & OWNER OF THE ACFT WAS A 50 YR OLD EX-NAVAL AVIATOR WITH CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN HIGH PERFORMANCE HEAVY ACFT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFICATED & THE ACFT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFIED. AN AUTOPSY PERFORMED ON THE PLT, WHO WAS ALSO A PRACTICING PHYSICIAN, REVEALED ADVANCED ARTERIOSCLEROTIC HEART DISEASE & A HISTORY OF TREATMENT FOR HIGH BLOOD PREESURE. LASTLY, DURING THE PERIOD PRECEEDING THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT WAS EXPERIENCING STRESS FROM THE DEATH OF A GOOD FRIEND IN ANOTHER ACFT ACCIDENT & A RECENT ILLNESS OF HIS OWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N51JL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN P-51D
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44-73849A
- Airframe hours: 1740
- Engines: PACKARD R.R. 1650-7 1445 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jack N. Levine
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 1984, 1 hours before
- Departed: PTK, PONTIAC, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,300 total, 100 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19841117062209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841117062209A), Nov 17, 1984: Namer P51D, New Haven, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wing dipped, aircraft descended into powerline and ground at high speed. Pilot had arteriosclerotic heart disease.

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.

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