P-51 Crash Kills Pilot

[moose135]

Thought I posted about this earlier, maybe the new board ate my homework...

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2 ... oaircrash/

Man killed in air crash at Camarillo Airport

During his first solo flight, a 42-year-old Thousand Oaks resident was killed Sunday morning after crashing a privately-owned, Mustang Vintage P-51 WWII aircraft at the Camarillo Airport on the south end of the runway.

A call was made to the dispatcher about 8:15 a.m., and about 30 emergency personnel responded, including airport operations, the sheriff and coroner, said Mark Taillon, Ventura County Fire Department captain. The man was pronounced dead at 8:35 a.m. Witnesses say the man appeared to be practicing taking off and landing, Taillon said. He took off from the runway headed west when the plane crashed into fields adjacent to the runway, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. At the family's request, the victim's name will not be made public until Monday, because he had extensive family in the area that should be notified first. All that could be released about the man's identity Sunday is that he's a local resident, Taillon said.

[uplander]

I witnessed a Mustang crash myself. Could these vintage a/c just be too old to be safe?

[USAF Pilot 07]

I witnessed a Mustang crash myself. Could these vintage a/c just be too old to be safe?

Not if they're well maintained... Sometimes accidents, which are just that - unexpected occurrences - happen. The problem with older aircraft is that they have to undergo more thorough mx more often. Not everyone who can afford these aircraft, can afford the mx costs associated with owning one.

[moose135]

Here's an update:

http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005116115

‘Warbird’ crash kills valley pilot on solo flight
Did P-51 roll because of too much power?

By PAT MURPHY
Express Staff Writer

A sudden burst of excessive engine power may have led to a fatal crash in California on Sunday of a P-51D Mustang that killed part-time valley resident John McKittrick on his first solo flight in the $1.8 million World War II war bird.

McKittrick, 42, a bond trader, an experienced pilot in other single- and twin-engine aircraft, had purchased the Mustang five months ago with the intention of entering next year's Reno Air Races in the high-speed, unlimited aircraft class, according to a close Ketchum friend of 14 years and fellow P-51 owner-pilot, Bill Rheinschild.

Rheinschild told the Mountain Express that based on accounts of witnesses at Camarillo Airport north of Los Angeles, McKittrick was flying the Mustang - nicknamed "Lou IV" - solo for the first time since taking some 50 hours of dual instruction in the modified, two-seat former Air Force fighter.

His unidentified instructor had cleared McKittrick for takeoffs and landings and flying in the airport pattern. "On landing," Rheinschild said, McKittrick "made a perfect approach but ballooned (bounced) when his tail wheel touched down too early."

He said McKittrick "added too much power" on the 1,850-horsepower Rolls Royce Merlin engine to neutralize the porpoising, which caused the aircraft to "torque roll." The high-speed aircraft whipped over into an inverted attitude and immediately crashed, killing McKittrick instantly. There was no fire. "Whenever you get into a situation like that," Rheinschild explained, "it's every aviator's reaction to give it power. But you can't do it in this kind of airplane."

Rheinschild said McKittrick has owned a single-engine Beech Bonanza, a twin-engine Beech KingAir C-90 and a World War II T-6 trainer, and had contracted for construction of a Hawker Sea Fury with complete parts he'd bought.

McKittrick, whose fulltime residence is in Thousand Oaks, Calif., had about 1,500 hours of flying experience, Rheinschild said. Rheinschild is president of a southern California home-building corporation, but lives in the valley.

The P-51 (later the F-51) was the first U.S. fighter capable of accompanying World War II heavy bomber raids deep into Europe to ward off German fighters. The Mustang also was a superb ground attack aircraft in support of ground troops. McKittrick's Mustang had the telltale black-and-white wing stripes painted on aircraft involved in the D-Day Normandy invasion.

He is survived by his wife, Michele, and two children. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Calvary Christian Church, Westlake, Calif., with a reception following at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks.