Reported P-51 crash in Durango, CO

[T J Johansen]

Also back in the late 1960's, my dad flew his Aztec and some buddies to look at a P-51 in a hangar in East Tennessee. It was bare metal and covered in dust and smelled oily. Meanwhile there was a verified rumour that a guy in the Chattanooga area of east Tennessee had a bunch of P-51, and T-33 parts, engines, drop tanks, etc.
SO researching this accident yesterday, I found that Dr. Bertz' P-51 was purchased in 1968 from the Tallmantz collection as was the PT-17 my dad bought in 1968.
The P-51 that crashed yesterday passed through an owner in Signal Mtn, Tennessee and is probably the mystery Mustang we went to look at buying back in the late 1960's. Interesting that both P-51's in Colorado have a Tennessee connection.

John Temple from Chattanooga owned two P-51s, and his other steed was 44-74435 N130JT. I think this is the one you saw as he flew it between 1966-70. It was plain aluminium with the N# in black letters on the fuselage. Also, he didn't own N1451D until 1970. You didn't by any chance shoot any photos of it when you went to see it?

T J

[Django]

What a shame. Godspeed.

[marine air]

Thanks for the clarification. I will get more info from the p-51 mechanic. He's still alive and in the area.

[bdk]

It was crashed on it's maiden flight after restoration by a pilot who had not flown a mustang, was planning a night cross country with a passenger, instead he ended up crashing it into a feed lot and killing a couple of cows.

AKA "Unruly Julie" when it was at Chino.

[p51]

Seems to be a trend for this airframe. I remember in the 80s, there were several people who had more money than stick time, bought fighters then immediately pranged them. I remember a news story about a guy who'd only ever flown 152s and bought a 'Stang. He didn't make it through the second flight.
Makes you wonder why the FAA doesn't require for time in type for something as hot as a P-51...

[T J Johansen]

You should read Dr. Gerry Snyder's P-51 accident summary from the 60s. You just won't believe the lack of experience some of the owners had...

T J

[maxum96]

Disregard. I got my question answered.

Last edited by maxum96 on Thu Jul 10, 2014 3:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Robbie Stuart]

You should read Dr. Gerry Snyder's P-51 accident summary from the 60s. You just won't believe the lack of experience some of the owners had...

T J

Here is a link. Some sad stories!
Robbie
http://www.warbirddepot.com/library/saf ... report.pdf

[jaybird]

You should read Dr. Gerry Snyder's P-51 accident summary from the 60s. You just won't believe the lack of experience some of the owners had...

T J

Here is a link. Some sad stories!
Robbie
http://www.warbirddepot.com/library/saf ... report.pdf

First of all, condolences to friends and family of the two gentlemen.

Regarding Robbie's link, there is a very strange coincidence for that article posted in this thread - look at the bottom of page #12, #13, & #14 for the photo caption and the name of the photographer.

[Robbie Stuart]

You should read Dr. Gerry Snyder's P-51 accident summary from the 60s. You just won't believe the lack of experience some of the owners had...

T J

Here is a link. Some sad stories!
Robbie
http://www.warbirddepot.com/library/saf ... report.pdf

First of all, condolences to friends and family of the two gentlemen.

Regarding Robbie's link, there is a very strange coincidence for that article posted in this thread - look at the bottom of page #12, #13, & #14 for the photo caption and the name of the photographer.

That got my attention too! Strange indeed.
Robbie

[mlenoch]

The owner of the Durango Mustang is the son of the Snyder report's photo credits and acknowledgments on the last page.
VL

[Matt Gunsch]

The owner of the Durango Mustang is the son of the Snyder report's photo credits and acknowledgments on the last page.
VL

How much you want to bet his dad is up there having a discussion with his newly arrived son about reading the report he had a hand in writing....

[Warbirdnerd]

The NTSB have posted their preliminary report:

NTSB Identification: CEN14FA339
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 04, 2014 in Durango, CO
Aircraft: NORTH AMERICAN/AERO CLASSICS P 51D, registration: N1451D
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On July 4, 2014 about 0930 mountain daylight time, a North American P-51 Mustang, N1451D, was substantially damaged when the airplane impacted terrain near Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO), Durango, Colorado, shortly after takeoff. The airplane was owned and operated by Bridgewood Holdings, LLC, Durango, Colorado. The certified flight instructor, who occupied the back seat, and the pilot receiving instruction, who occupied the front seat, were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

In statements provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator in charge (IIC) by local law enforcement, and written statements provided to the IIC, witnesses saw the airplane takeoff and enter a hard left bank to approximately 90 degrees. The nose pitched up slightly and it continued to turn past 90 degrees to an inverted position when the nose pitched down to approximately a 45 degree angle. The witnesses stated they lost sight of the airplane as it went behind a hangar and did not witness the airplane impact the ground.

At 0853, the DRO automated weather reporting facility reported wind from 100 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, temperature 19 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 07 degrees C, and an altimeter reading of 30.39 inches of mercury.

Found it here:
http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief ... 1908&key=1

[Courier Sportster]

that accident summary from the 60's was interesting. thanks for the link. the entire family was sure a tragic case. weird too, think I need to reread that one. the guy who flew the F-51 from Chicago to LA in nothing but a bathing suit, what a nut!

[p51]

The owner of the Durango Mustang is the son of the Snyder report's photo credits and acknowledgments on the last page.

Now that is irony!

the entire family was sure a tragic case. weird too, think I need to reread that one.

Yeah, that one was a little tough to read. The plane came apart in midair due to the dive speed. They found nothing larger that a hankie size from the pilot's clothes. Three little kids, too (no word on remains, thankfully, in that report). Can you imagine the terror and pandemonium in that P-51 right before what had to have been a horrific (and hopefully quick) death for them all? I shudder at the thought of it.
Rates right up there with the orbiter Columbia breakup on my, "I don't want tog out like that" meter.