LAX94LA361

The aircraft collided with level terrain while attempting an emergency landing during air racing trials. The pilot had pulled up off the race course and transmitted a 'mayday' distress call. He indicated the airplane's windscreen was covered with oil, restricting his vision. The pilot was not aligned with the runway and collided with the ground in a '20-25 degree' nose-down attitude short of the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed a propeller blade-feathering oil seal in the propeller hub was dislodged, allowing pressurized oil to leak and foul the windshield.

On September 12, 1994, at 1317 hours Pacific daylight time, a North American P-51D, N51U, collided with level terrain while approaching runway 8 at the Reno-Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner while taking part in the Reno Air Races. The pilot was participating in qualification heats when the accident occurred. The airplane was destroyed and the certificated private pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight originated at the Reno-Stead Airport about 1300 hours.

According to race control authorities, the pilot pulled up off the race course and transmitted a "Mayday" distress call. The pilot indicated the airplane's windscreen was covered with oil and he could not see. Race control cleared the pilot to land any runway. The pilot indicated he was landing on runway 8.

Another race pilot was maneuvering his airplane to join the accident airplane and planned to assist the accident pilot land on the runway. The other pilot noticed the accident pilot's airplane was right of the runway extended centerline and informed the accident pilot he should turn left. The accident airplane's rate of descent was then noted to "increase sharply." The accident airplane was observed by witnesses to collide with the ground in a "20-25 degree" nose-down attitude.

According to witnesses, the airplane struck the ground on the main landing gear and propeller, and then broke apart. Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)conducted an on-scene examination of the wreckage. The wreckage path was approximately 450 feet long in level chaparral brush. The airplane's horizontal and vertical stabilizer's leading edges were covered with oil. The oil pattern on the stabilizer surfaces followed the path of airflow when the airplane is in flight.

The FAA inspectors traced the source of the oil to the propeller hub. According to the inspector's report, a blade-feathering oil seal was dislodged, allowing pressurized oil used to change the propeller pitch to leak.

A post mortem examination on the pilot was conducted by the Washoe County Coroner's Office on September 13, 1994, with specimens retained for toxicological examination. The results of the toxicological analysis were negative for routine drug and alcohol screens.