- Date
- November 21, 1992, 09:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Wellington, NV
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N117ENorth American F-51D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921121047489A
- Case key
- 27869
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper handling of his airplane during the performance of an aerobatic maneuver with inadequate altitude.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
On a clear day the pilot flew his airplane, which had a 1,650 HP engine, over an open field where cattle were located. A witness reported observing the airplane make two low altitude passes. During the second pass the airplane performed a roll and then collided with the ground and burned. Wreckage was found over a 736 foot long path. No mechanical malfunctions were found with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N117E
- Reported as
- North American F-51D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 44 73832
- Airframe hours
- 2,570
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce V-1650-7, 1,650 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Harvey E. Hunewill
- Registered owner
- H. E. Hunewill Constr Co Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Limited (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 20, 1992 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- N59 · Smith, NV
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 7,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N117E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.