- Date
- September 29, 1990, 11:06 local (15:06 UTC)
- Place
- Chatham, MA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N51UNorth American P-51D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 12, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900929043229A
- Case key
- 36506
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 failure to maintain flying speed which resulted in an accelerated stall and loss of airplane control.
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
The pilot and passenger were returning from a local flight. Witnesses observed the airplane execute a low pass over the runway and 'pull up abruptly and bank steeply to the left.' The airplane then rolled to the right and continued along the initial flight path in a wings level attitude. According to one witness the airplane 'appeared to stall' and descend behind trees near the runway. Post accident examination of the wrecakge revealed no evidence of a pre impact mechanical malfunction or failure of the engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N51U
- Reported as
- North American P-51D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 44-74204N
- Airframe hours
- 2,710
- Engine
- Packard V1650-9A, 1,600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Enhorning, George F.
- Registered owner
- Wolcott Air Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Limited (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 2, 1990 · 60 hours before
- Airport
- OB6 · Chatham Muni, runway 24, 3,001 × 100 ft
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
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,700 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
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 N51U · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.