# NTSB CHI90DER02: North American P-51D, N512ED, Mayer, MN, July 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1990, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Mayer, MN
- Coordinates: 44.880115, -93.879241 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8801&lon=-93.8792&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14486
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90DER02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14486/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90DER02

## Probable cause

UNDETERMINED

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE (ESTIMATED 60 TO 75 DEGREES) AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRPLANE IN A RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE, WITH SMOKE (OR VAPOR) TRAILING OFF THE RIGHT WING. AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED IN SMALL PIECES ON A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING OVER AN AREA ABOUT 25 YARDS WIDE AND 45 YARDS LONG. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR EVIDENCE OF PILOT INCAPACITATION WAS FOUND, THOUGH THERE WERE EXTENSIVE DECELLERATIVE FORCES DURING IMPACT. ALSO, AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N512ED](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N512ED-2013-09-30), registration cancelled 2013-09-30, S/N 51RJB, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN P-51D
- Registry model: [Bleeg Robert J P-51D-25NA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bleeg-robert-j-p-51d-25na) (registry code 0566453) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce V-1650-7](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-v-1650-7) (registry code 54558, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 51RJB
- Engines: Rolls-Royce V-1650-7 1490 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pond, Robert
- Registered owner: Robert J Pond
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1990, 13 hours before
- Departed: FCM, EDEN PRAIRIE, MN
- Destination: FCM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 15,000 total, 187 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSP, 28 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 19900718027119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900718027119A), Jul 18, 1990: Namer P51D, Mayer, MN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Crashed and burned. Pilot had FAA approval to operate high performance aircraft.

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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