# NTSB FTW90DRA02: North American P-51-D, N5483V, Galveston, TX, January 24, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: January 24, 1990, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Galveston, TX
- Location: 29.3014° N, 94.7978° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Galveston, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3014&lon=-94.7978&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22969
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90DRA02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22969/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DRA02

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING. ONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING AND THE RESULTANT LOW FUEL STATE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - fog
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown
  - fluid,fuel - low level

## Analysis

FOLLOWING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT ARRIVED IN THE AREA OF HIS DESTINATION TO FIND THE WEATHER BELOW MINIMUMS. HE DIVERTED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT IN THE AREA AND ATTEMPTED TWO APPROACHES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO BREAK OUT DUE TO THE WEATHER. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME WAS 100 FOOT CEILING WITH .1 MILE VISIBILITY IN HAZE AND FOG. AFTER THE SECOND MISSED APPROACH, THE PILOT ADVISED ATC THAT HE WAS RUNNING LOW ON FUEL AND DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO EXECUTE A THIRD APPROACH OR DIVERT TO ANOTHER AIRPORT. HE SUBSEQUENTLY ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE IN THE NEARBY GULF OF MEXICO. THE PILOT DEPARTED FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA WITHOUT RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING AND DID NOT OBTAIN ANY WEATHER INFORMATION EN ROUTE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5483V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5483V), registered now, S/N 4473518N (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN P-51-D
- Registry model: [North American/Aero Classics P-51D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-aero-classics-p-51d) (registry code 6402304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4473518N
- Engines: PACKARD V-1650-9 1650 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Whittington Bros. Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 4,800 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GLS, 4 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 19900124001079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900124001079A), Jan 24, 1990: Namer P51D, Galveston, TX, Destroyed. Failed to check weather. Unable to land due to low ceiling and visibility at destination. Low fuel, ditched in gulf

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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