# NTSB NYC90DNA05: North American P-51D, N51U, Chatham, MA, September 29, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: September 29, 1990, 11:06 local (15:06 UTC)
- Place: Chatham, MA
- Location: 41.6739° N, 69.9629° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chatham, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6739&lon=-69.9629&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90DNA05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36506/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90DNA05

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCELERATED STALL AND LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51U-2013-10-31), registration cancelled 2013-10-31, S/N 44-74204N (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN P-51D
- Registry model: [North American P-51D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-p-51d) (registry code 6402319) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44-74204N
- Airframe hours: 2710
- Engines: PACKARD V1650-9A 1600 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900929043229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900929043229A), Sep 29, 1990: Namer P51D, Chatham, MA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Made low,slow overhead approach. Pulled up in steep bank,rolled,recovered,stalled and crashed. Held acrobatic waiver

## Other investigations on N51U (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX94LA361](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA361), Sep 12, 1994: North American P-51D (N51U), Reno, NV, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an attempted forced landing. Factors in the accident were the failure of a propeller blade-feathering oil seal which leaked oil on the…

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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