# NTSB LAX79FUM25: N.American P-51D, N332, Nsalton City, CA, August 21, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 21, 1979
- Place: Nsalton City, CA · NSALTON CITY, CA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 16, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134670
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FUM25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FUM25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2066  79/8/21    NSALTON CITY,CA     N.AMERICAN P-51D    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 53, 4500
        TIME - 1315                    N332                PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 50 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          YUMA,AZ                     OXNARD,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: RUDDER SURFACES,ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLUTTER
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- PACKARD ROLLS-ROYCE V-1650-7 ENG.FLIGHT PHASE UNKNOWN.GENERAL DISINTEGRATION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N332 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: N.AMERICAN P-51D
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790821023529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790821023529A), Aug 21, 1979: Namer P51D, Salton City, CA, Destroyed. Inflt breakup due to rudder flutter. Possible pilot incapacitation due to empty oxygen system.

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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