# NTSB NYC88DGT01: North American F-51D, N51WE, State College, PA, March 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1988, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: State College, PA
- Location: 40.7910° N, 77.8568° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of State College, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7910&lon=-77.8568&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35972
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88DGT01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35972/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88DGT01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - powerplant - undetermined (cause)
- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

N51WE, A NORTH AMERICAN F-51D TOOK OFF AS THE SECOND SHIP OF A TWO SHIP FLIGHT WITH N6341T, ANOTHER F-51D. THEY WERE OBSERVED CLIMBING IN FORMATION INTO THE CLOUDS. N6341T ASSUMED COMMUNICATIONS AND SAID THEY WERE A FLIGHT OF 2 AND OK, AFTER ATC WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT N51WE. WITNESSES WERE FOUND WHO SAW AND HEARD AN AIRCRAFT TRAVELING NORTH AND EXPERIENCING ENGINE TROUBLE. WITNESSES ALSO SAID THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE OBSCURED. N51WE WAS FOUND NEAR THE TOP OF A WOODED HILL SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT FATALLY INJURED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT THERE WAS ONE FOULED SPARK PLUG, HOWEVER, THE MAGNETOS AND CARBURATOR WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE WX OBSERVATION SITE WAS 6 MILES SOUTH OF THE ACC SITE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N51WE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN F-51D
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44-11153
- Engines: PACKARD V1650-7 1700 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William E. Clark
- Registered owner: Clark Motor Co., Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Destination: CHS, CHARLESTON, SC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,800 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: UNV, 6 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 19880307005849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880307005849A), Mar 7, 1988: Namer F51D, State College, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Two aircraft formation flight into clouds. One crashed cloud obscured hill. Fouled plug. Weather related.

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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