P-51D Crashes in Arizona, One Reported Dead

[Cirrus N210MS]

Fox 10 News in Phoenix is reporting that a P-51D Mustang has crashed near Papago and Ralston Road in Maricopa. Responders arriving at the scene found one person dead. The aircraft is believed to have caught fire after impact.
UPDATE: Tucson News Now has confirmed that two people were killed in the crash. The pilot has been identified as Jeff Pino, former president of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. The aircraft is F-51 44-63634 / N351BD “Big Beautiful Doll”. Two witnesses reported that the machine’s engine was “sputtering” prior to impact.

[ViperPilot2]

Oh, wow... not another one!

Alan

[Bomber_12th]

This happened yesterday (and the "BBD" in the first photo above is actually the one that crashed/was destroyed in England in 2011 (a completely separate aircraft)).

This is the one that crashed yesterday (used to be a common sight at Oshkosh every year, when owned by Mike Henningsen): http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51...erial/44-63634

[MustangL2W]

Very Sad news indeed....

[stansdds]

Very sad, indeed.

[Allen]

Sad news!

Also if you own a P-51 don't fly it. Bad things come in 3s and this crash only makes 2...

[MustangL2W]

Skill and Knowledge are supposed to overcome Luck and Superstition.... But I get what you are saying!!

[n4gix]

Oh dear! There's not enough left now for a rebuild either...

Sad that both pilot and pax were both killed.

[Allen]

Skill and Knowledge are supposed to overcome Luck and Superstition.... But I get what you are saying!!

Well some times it seem Luck and Superstition over comes all and well the 1st crash only damaged the plane the 2nd took 2 lives and if the 3rd follows the patten....

[sixstrings5859]

Had a recent crash in Galveston Tx. of a P-51 killing both pilot and passenger . These aircraft are just getting to old to fly in my opinion. Dreamed of taking a flight in a P-51 but the price was just too high for my beer budget. Sad news on these crashes.

[Bomber_12th]

Had a recent crash in Galveston Tx. of a P-51 killing both pilot and passenger . These aircraft are just getting to old to fly in my opinion.

In the Galveston crash (2013), there was nothing wrong with the aircraft - out over the water, the passenger had control of the aircraft, and it was flown right into the ocean (amazing as that sounds). This was all recorded on on-board cameras. http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.av...24X85621&key=1

In the P-51C landing accident last week, the pilot forgot to put the gear down.

So-far nothing is pointing to there having been any problem with the P-51D "Big Beautiful Doll" that crashed last week. It has been reported that the aircraft was performing maneuvers, and that the engine was heard to be sputtering, but all Merlins do that when the throttle is pulled back (i.e. to decrease power/speed as it approached terra firma).

In the crash of the P-51D "Big Beautiful Doll" at Duxford in 2011, in which the pilot bailed out, it was caused by another pilot, flying a Skyraider, not doing his job to maintain sight of the P-51, and colliding.

In the crash of the "Checkertail Clan" P-51D a couple years ago (2014), the pilot (who had very little time on high performance aircraft, and always had to fly with an instructor in the back) failed to maintain proper control of the aircraft after takeoff.

[n4gix]

Allowing a pax to fly the high performance aircraft into the water is just irresponsible. It's not like the pilot couldn't have grabbed the stick himself to correct the descent...

[Bomber_12th]

Allowing a pax to fly the high performance aircraft into the water is just irresponsible. It's not like the pilot couldn't have grabbed the stick himself to correct the descent...

My point is that with many/most of these incidents, nothing is wrong with the aircraft. These aircraft types are among the most well maintained and looked-after aircraft flying today. The cause for most of the crashes/accidents is the result of the pilot's actions (or lack there of).

In the incident with the Galveston Mustang crash, the pilot lost situational awareness, and simply did not realize the impending danger/how close they were to the water before it was too late, else he certainly would have taken immediate control.

[Bomber_12th]

Here is what may be an interesting comparison to some. Here is a list that I have produced of all of the most major P-51 incidents/accidents/crashes since the year 2000, combined with a list I have produced of all of the first post-restoration flights of P-51's since the year 2000. Note there is some cross-over between both lists, and that a few aircraft show-up more than once on each list.

Incidents/Accidents/Crashes. Those in bold represent the only P-51's damaged, between 2000 and now, that have not yet been repaired or are not known to be currently under repair.

2000 TF-51D N20TF - Forced Landing **restored/flying again in 2004**
2001 P-51D N551CB "Glamorous Glenn III" - Engine Failure/Crashed/Destroyed
2002 P-51D N991R "Miss America" - Forced Landing/Heavily Damaged **restored/flying again in 2007**
2003 TF-51D N93TF "Scat VII" - Crashed/Destroyed **restored/flying again in 2007** (1 fatality)
2003 P-51D N6306T - Gear-up Landing/Minor Damage **repaired/flying again in 2004**
2004 P-51C N61429 "Tuskegee Airmen" - Engine Failure/Forced Landing/Heavily Damaged **restored/flying again in 2009** (1 fatality)
2005 P-51D N6327T "Donna-Mite" - Crashed/Destroyed (1 fatality)
2005 P-51D N251BP - Landing Accident **repaired/flying again in 2007**
2005 P-51D N10607 "Barbara Jean" - Engine Failure/Forced Landing **restored/flying again in 2007**
2006 P-51D N551BJ "Mormon Mustang" - Engine Failure/Forced Landing/Heavily Damaged **restored/flying again in 2009**
2006 P-51D N151BL - Landing Accident **restored/flying again in 2011 as N451EA**
2007 P-51D N51TK "Lou IV" - Landing Accident/Heavily Damaged **under restoration to fly** (1 fatality)
2007 P-51A N8082U "Precious Metal II" - Landing Accident **restored/not flown** (1 fatality)
2007 P-51D N151RJ "Stang" - Landing Accident **repaired/flying again in 2010**
2008 P-51D VH-BOB - Gear-Up Landing **under restoration to fly**
2008 P-51D N551W "The Millie G" - Engine Failure/Crash **repaired/flying again in 2010**
2008 P-51D G-BIXL "Miss Helen" - Engine Failure/Hard Landing **repaired/flying again in 2011**
2008 P-51D VH-FST "The Flying Undertaker" - Gear-Up Landing **repaired/flyable**
2010 P-51D N514NH "Su Su" - Landing Accident/Heavily Damaged **under restoration to fly**
2011 P-51D D-FBBD "Big Beautiful Doll" - Crashed/Destroyed
2011 P-51D N991R "Miss America" - Gear-Up Landing **repaired/flying again in 2012**
2011 P-51D N79111 "The Galloping Ghost" - Crashed/Destroyed (1 fatality)
2011 P-51D N251HR "Glamorous Gal" - Landing Accident/Gear Failure **restored/flying again in 2014**
2011 P-51D N6168C "FF-704" - Landing Accident **restored/flying again in 2015**
2012 P-51D N514DK - Landing Accident **repaired/flying again in 2014**
2013 TF-51D N4151D "Galveston Gal" - Crashed/Destroyed (2 fatalities)
2013(?) P-51D N514RP "Red Dog" - Engine Fire **restored/flying again in 2015**
2014 P-51D N1451D "Checkertail Clan" - Crashed/Destroyed (2 fatalities)
2014 P-51D N351BD "Big Beautiful Doll" - Landing Gear Failure/Belly Landing **repaired/flying again in 2015**
2015 P-51D N6WJ "Precious Metal" - Engine Fire/Severe Fire Damage **under restoration to fly**
2016 P-51C N61429 "Tuskegee Airmen" - Gear-Up Landing **under restoration to fly**
2016 P-51D N351BD "Big Beautiful Doll" - Crashed/Destroyed (2 fatalities)


First Post-Restoration Flights:

2000 TF-51D N351DT "Kentucky Babe" - (flies today as "Crazy Horse 2")
2000 P-51D N351D "Oklahoma Miss" - (flies today as CF-VPM/RCAF markings)
2000 P-51C N1204 "Ina the Macon Belle"
2001 P-51D G-MSTG "Janie"
2001 P-51D VH-FST "The Flying Undertaker"
2001 P-51C N61429 "Tuskegee Airmen"
2001 P-51D N5500S "Geraldine"
2002 P-51D N151BW "Cripes A' Mighty"
2002 P-51D VH-MFT "Snifter"
2002 TF-51D N51LW "Little Witch"
2002 P-51D N334FS "Red Dog XII"
2003 P-51D N451TB "Kimberly Kaye"
2003 P-51D N41749 "Miss Marilyn II"
2003 P-51D N723FH "Upupa Epops"
2003 P-51D N351MX "February"
2003 P-51D N551J "Glamorous Glen III" - (flies today as "Gentleman Jim")
2003 P-51D N451D "Sweet and Lovely"
2004 P-51D N6306T - (following repairs)
2004 P-51D N20MS "Daddy's Girl"
2004 TP-51C N251MX "Betty Jane"
2004 TF-51D N20TF - (flies today as "Bum Steer")
2004 P-51D N63476 "City of Winnipeg" - (flies today as "Kwitcherbitchin")
2005 P-51D N83KD "Cincinnati Miss
2005 P-51C N487FS "Princess Elizabeth"
2005 P-51D N51PE "Little Horse"
2005 P-51D N251BP - (flies today as "Buzzin Cuzzin")
2006 P-51A N8082U "Precious Metal II"
2006 TF-51D N151TF "Tempus Fugit"
2006 P-51D N551W "The Millie G"
2006 P-51A N4235Y "Mrs. Virginia"
2006 P-51D N2869D "Section Eight"
2006 P-51D N151AM - (originally N7722C)
2006 P-51D N514RP "Red Dog"
2007 P-51D N551TM "Boomer"
2007 TF-51D "Miss Velma"
2007 P-51D N251BP - (following repairs/flies today as "Buzzin Cuzzin")
2007 P-51D N991R "Miss America" - (following repairs)
2007 P-51D N10607 "Barbara Jean - (following repairs)
2007 TF-51D N93TF "Scat VII"- (following repairs)
2007 P-51D "Quick Silver"
2007 P-51D N4034S "Queen of Hearts"
2007 P-51D N7TF "Double Trouble Two"
2008 P-51D G-MRLL "Marinell"
2008 P-51D N4132A "Pecos Bill"
2008 P-51D N74190 "Happy Jack's Go Buggy"
2008 P-51B N551E "Old Crow"
2008 TF-51D N51GY "E Pluribus Unum"
2008 P-51B N5087F "Impatient Virgin?"
2009 P-51D N5551D "Little Rebel"
2009 P-51D N79111 "The Galloping Ghost"
2009 P-51D N551BJ "Mormon Mustang" - (following repairs)
2009 P-51C N61429 "Tuskegee Airmen" - (following repairs)
2009 P-51D N5444V "Dixie Boy" - (flies today as "Miss Kandy")
2010 P-51D N151RJ "Stang" - (following repairs)
2010 P-51D N551W "The Millie G" - (following repairs)
2010 P-51K N98CF "Fragile but Agile"
2010 P-51C N4651C "Boise Bee"
2010 P-51D N551JV "Live Bait"
2010 A-36 N251A
2011 TF-51D N4151D "Galveston Gal"
2011 P-51D N451EA "Primo Branco" - (following repairs)
2011 P-51D N251PW "Baby Duck"
2011 P-51D N251L "Twilight Tear"
2012 A-36 N4607V "Baby Carmen"
2012 P-51D N2051D "This Is It!"
2012 TF-51D D-FUNN "Little-ite"
2012 P-51D PH-JAT "Trusty Rusty"
2012 P-51D N991R "Miss America" - (following repairs)
2012 P-51D N5420V - (flies today as "Swamp Fox")
2013 P-51D N151JT "Was That Too Fast"
2014 P-51D N514DK - (following repairs)
2014 P-51D N51ZW "Frances Dell" - (following repairs/previously "Glamorous Gal")
2014 P-51D N1751D "Sierra Sue II"
2014 P-51B N515ZB "Berlin Express"
2014 P-51D N551MB "Risky Business"
2015 P-51D N514RP "Red Dog" - (following repairs)
2015 P-51D N6168C "Weaver's Nude" - (following repairs/previously FF-704)
2015 P-51D N51TH "Alabama Rammer Jammer"
2015 P-51D N151BP "Bunny"


Total Number of P-51's Currently Flying - Roughly 170


Various Mustang Restoration Projects Currently Underway:

P-51A 43-6006 (former "Polar Bear")
P-51A 43-6178 "Snooper's"
P-51C 42-103100 "RAF FB206"
P-51C 42-103645 "Tuskegee Airmen"
P-51C 42-103740 "Patty Ann II"
P-51C 43-24907 "Lope's Hope 3rd"
P-51D 44-13954
P-51D 44-63350 "Lou IV"
P-51D 44-63762
P-51D 44-63788
P-51D 44-63791
P-51D 44-72028
P-51D 44-72059
P-51D 44-72181 "Sunny VIII"
P-51D 44-72299
P-51D 44-72395
P-51D 44-72483 (former "Ridge Runner III")
P-51D 44-73098
P-51D 44-73163
P-51D 44-73196
TF-51D 44-73282
P-51D 44-73323
P-51D 44-72356
P-51D 44-73437
P-51D 44-73518
P-51D 44-73864
P-51D 44-88a "Precious Metal"
P-51D 44-74204
TF-51D 44-74960 "Toulouse Nuts"
P-51D 44-84860 (former "Su Su")
P-51D 44-84896
TF-51D 44-12858 "Sonny Boy"(?)
P-51K 44-11807
P-51K 44-12852 "Frenesi"(?)
P-51D A68-005
P-51D A68-105

[Dev One]

My father who was an ATA ferry pilot in WW2, always recognised that Mustangs can bite.....A lot of other WW2 types could do so also.
Keith

[Bomber_12th]

From what I can make out, between the year 2000 and now, we gained about 56 new Mustangs flying that hadn't previously been flying prior to the 2000's. In that same amount of time, we have lost only 7 (only 1 of which was part of the 56 new flyers during that time). However, a few other P-51's that had been flyers of course became static during that time as well. This year we will see a few more new P-51 restorations completed/flying - for instance, the Collings Foundation TF-51D "Toulouse Nuts" should be completed/flying within the next two months, and will be joining the group on tour this year.