North American P 51D accident near Galveston, TX
On October 23, 2013, a North American P 51D (airplane) was involved in an accident near Galveston, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 23, 2013
- Place
- Galveston, TX
- Aircraft
- North American P 51D · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 29.167°N, 95.100°W
- NTSB ID
- 20131024X85621
Official records · CEN14LA015
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On October 23, 2013, about 1130 central daylight time, a North American P-51D airplane, N4151D, impacted the waters of Galveston Bay near Galveston, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, Galveston, Texas, and operated by the Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the flight. The flight originated from the Scholes International Airport (KGLS), Galveston, Texas, about 1120. A review of air traffic control (ATC) communications, revealed routine radio communications between ATC and the pilot. Shortly after takeoff, the KGLS tower controller queried the pilot if he wanted to contact Houston Center after leaving the control tower's airspace or remain on the tower frequency. The pilot reported that they would be airborne for 25-30 minutes and would remain on the tower controller's frequency. There was no further communication between the pilot and ATC. A witness, who was on a fishing boat, reported that he heard the airplane overhead heading south. The airplane made a slow turn to the north. The witness added that it appeared the airplane was descending and traveling at a high rate of speed. The engine sounded like it was at full throttle and the wings were level before impact with the water. A review of radar data for the accident flight depicted the airplane departing KG
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of situational awareness while instructing the passenger, which resulted in the controlled flight of the airplane into the water.
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Browse: Texas · North American aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
