# NTSB LAX06CA047: North American P-51D, N251BP, Minden, NV, December 7, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 7, 2005, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Minden, NV
- Coordinates: 39.000556, -119.750556
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0006&lon=-119.7506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62887
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62887/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA047

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The airplane bent a wing after veering off the runway during landing.  The pilot reported that after touchdown he lowered the tail to the runway and the airplane swerved.  The pilot said he overcorrected and the airplane veered off the runway.  The airplane bounced over the dirt next to the runway and came to rest on the taxiway.

## Factual narrative

On December 7, 2005, about 0930 Pacific standard time, a North American P-51D, N251BP, made a runway excursion at Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, Nevada.  The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The local flight departed Minden, Nevada, about 0900.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot stated the flight was uneventful prior to the accident.  After touching down he lowered the tail and the airplane swerved.  He overcorrected and the airplane went off the runway.  The airplane bounced across the dirt next to the runway and came to rest on a taxiway.  The pilot stated he was performing unfamiliar practice crosswind landing operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N251BP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N251BP), registered now, S/N 4484753, built 1944 (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)
- 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: 44-84756
- Engines: Rolls-Royce V-1650-7 1650 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bernie F. Jackson - Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2005
- Departed: MEV, Minden, NV
- Destination: MEV, Minden, NV
- Airport: MEV, Minden-Tahoe Airport, runway 34, 7,400 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 3,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °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 20051207030429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051207030429A), Dec 7, 2005: Namer P51D, Minden, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land at the Minden/tahoe airport where he impacted the runway with a hard landing, and bounced the aircraft resulting in loss of…

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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