# NTSB NYC97LA120: Boccher P51 Mustang, N515JB, North Rose, NY, June 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 1997, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: North Rose, NY - Coordinates: 43.199878, -76.909324 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1999&lon=-76.9093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39379 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39379/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA120 ## Probable cause was the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in the airplane striking trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the hand held Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver fell from the instrument panel and jammed the flight control. The airplane then departed the runway and struck trees. An FAA inspector reported that when he examined the airplane, the GPS was not in the flight controls, and he was unable to confirm the pilot's statements. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 1997, about 1130 eastern daylight time, an experimental homebuilt, P51 Mustang, N515JB, struck trees during the takeoff roll at Farnsworth Airport, North Rose, New York. The airplane was destroyed, and the non-certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight which was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he was destined for Weedport, New York. The airplane departed on runway 19, a turf runway that was 2,415 feet long, and 150 feet wide. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, he stated: "While taking off from Farnsworth Airport - the GPS hand held fell off dash of aircraft and lodged in control system and caused the operator to lose control - aircraft veered right and hit hedge row of trees, and flipped over, doing heavy damage. Pilot was OK - and walked away...." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector reported that during the examination of the airplane, the GPS unit was not lodged in the rudder pedals, and he was unable to confirm the pilot's report that the rudder pedals were jammed. Additionally, the pilot's student pilot certificate/airman medical certificate had expired on September 30, 1994, and he did not have a cross-country endorsement. The last annual inspection had expired on May 31, 1996, and the airplane did not have the special limitations required by special Airworthiness Certificate that was issued to the airplane. The FAA inspector also reported that although the pilot reported a total time of 260 hours, with 40 hours in type, the hours were not documented in the pilot's logbook. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot reported his total time as 100 hours, with 20 hours in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N515JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N515JB-2000-06-05), registration cancelled 2000-06-05, S/N 5683570 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boccher P51 MUSTANG (P51 MUSTAN) - Registry model: [Boccher John P51 MUSTANG](https://openairdocs.org/model/boccher-john-p51-mustang) (registry code 1690485) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5683570 - Airframe hours: 80 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John L. Ashby - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1995, 60 hours before - Departed: 8B4 - Destination: B16, WEEDSPORT, NY - Airport: 8B4, Farnsworth Airport, runway 10, 2,415 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; medical: class 3, expired; seat: center; flight hours: 100 total, 20 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ROC ## 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 19970615047489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970615047489A), Jun 15, 1997: North Rose, NY, Destroyed. (-16) Pilot john ashby flew his aircraft without the following: 1) no current student pilot certificate. 2) no current medical certificate. 3) no cross country… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.