# NTSB CHI87DEM09: North American P-51D, N3278D, Ludington, MI, June 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1987, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Ludington, MI
- Coordinates: 43.95016, -86.439208 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9502&lon=-86.4392&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13568
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87DEM09
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13568/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87DEM09

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - initiated
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

N3278D WAS #1 (LEADER) IN A FLT OF 2 NORTH AMERICAN P-51 ACFT. THE PLT OF THE 2ND P-51 RPRTD THAT THEY WERE ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING OVER WATER ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE SHORE WHEN THE LEADER RAISED HIS NOSE & BEGAN ROLLING TO THE RIGHT. WITNESSES ON THE BEACH ESTIMATED THE ACFT'S ALT WAS BTN 50 & 200 FT BFR BEGINNING THE MANEUVER. RPRTDLY, THE NOSE OF THE ACFT CAME DOWN THRU THE HORIZON AS THE PLANE REACHED AN INVERTED POSITION, THEN THE ACFT ENTERED A DSCNT & THE DIRECTION CHANGED TO THE SOUTHEAST AS THE PLANE ROLLED TO A WINGS LVL ATTITUDE. BFR RECOVERING FROM THE DESCNT, THE ACFT HIT A SAND DUNE NEAR THE SHORE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3278D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3278D-1997-08-20), registration cancelled 1997-08-20, S/N 4473216 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN P-51D
- Registry model: [North American/Aero Classics P-51D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-aero-classics-p-51d) (registry code 6402304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44-73216
- Airframe hours: 827
- Engines: PACKARD R.R. V-1650-7 1720 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Meylam Enterprises, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1987, 60 hours before
- Departed: TVC, TRAVERSE CITY, MI
- Destination: LUD, LUDINGTON, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,200 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVC, 51 nm away

## 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 19870626027349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870626027349A), Jun 26, 1987: Namer P51D, Ludington, MI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. The aircraft hit the ground after a low level aileron roll. The pilot performed aerobatics at an unsafe altitude.

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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