North American-Aero Classics P-51D accident near Monroe, MI
On September 6, 1997, a North American-Aero Classics P-51D (airplane) was involved in an accident near Monroe, MI. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 6, 1997
- Place
- Monroe, MI
- Aircraft
- North American-Aero Classics P-51D · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.910°N, 83.380°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08807
NTSB summary
On September 6, 1997, at 1103 eastern daylight time (edt), a North American/Aero Classics P-51D, N6345T, operated by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when during cruise flight, the airplane's engine lost power. While maneuvering west of Monroe, Michigan, the airplane struck a powerline and subsequently impacted the terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot and passenger on board were fatally injured. The flight originated at Toledo, Ohio, at 1053 edt, and was en route to Ypsilanti, Michigan. A witness attending the Toledo Air Show at Toledo Express Airport, Ohio, videotaped the airplane takeoff at approximately 1053 edt. The witness said that in the video of the airplane white/gray smoke can be seen coming from the rear of the airplane. The witness provided a copy of the video to the National Transportation Safety Board for review. Several witnesses observed the airplane maneuvering west of Monroe, Michigan just prior to the accident. One witness was in his vehicle traveling eastbound on M-50, an east-west running paved road, at approximately 1100 edt when he heard a "loud vibration/screaming noise and then observed a plane fly approximately 40 feet along the treetops just north of M-50. The plane had heavy white and black smoke pouring from the rear. The plane banked right, hit a powerline and plunged to the ground." The witness describes two separate trails of smoke, one white and one black. Two other witnesses, wh
Probable cause
the pilot operating the airplane with a known coolant leak, coolant exhaustion, overheating of the engine, and subsequent failure of a connecting rod, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power; and failure of the pilot to see the powerline. The powerline was a related factor.
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Browse: Michigan
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
