# NTSB FTW90DQG03: North American P-51D, N12700, Abilene, TX, June 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 23, 1990, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Abilene, TX
- Coordinates: 32.449268, -99.730728 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4493&lon=-99.7307&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22965
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90DQG03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22965/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DQG03

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING AFTER A LOW PASS, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.  THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT BEGAN HIS AIR SHOW ROUTINE WITH A LOW PASS DOWN THE RUNWAY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.  HE THEN MADE A CLIMBING TURN TO A CLOSE-IN DOWNWIND LEG.  AT THE END OF THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN AT WHAT WAS REPORTED TO BE A SLOWER THAT NORMAL SPEED.  AFTER ABOUT 90 DEGREES OF TURN, THE ANGLE OF BANK INCREASED RAPIDLY, THE NOSE DROPPED, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP DESCENT.  A WITNESS REPORTED THE ENGINE WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER; HOWEVER, THIS COULD NOT BE SUBSTANTIATED.  DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 4500 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12700](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12700-1999-10-25), registration cancelled 1999-10-25, S/N 44-26139 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN P-51D
- Registry model: [North American F-51D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-f-51d) (registry code 6402309) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44-26139
- Engines: Rolls-Royce V-1650-7 1590 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: D. K. Precison
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: DYS, Dyess, runway 16, 13,600 × 300 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,500 total, 150 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DYS, 1 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 19900623021809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900623021809A), Jun 23, 1990: Namer P51D, Abilene, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Made slow low pass and steep turns, stalled and impacted vertically turning base for another pass. P51 time unknown

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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