P-51’s CRASH ON LANDING AT OSHKOSH

Make S curves while landing – . (2.9 mb – Click on Full Screen for best viewing)
P-51’s landing crash at Oshkosh on July 27, 2007. This slideshow will display why it is prudent to make S curves while landing to be sure you are not descending on another aircraft. Particularly true if you don’t have good visibility over the nose of the plane. Courtesy of Cliff Rosch and members Harold Thomas and Bob Earl

NTSB Identification: CHI07FA243A
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 27, 2007 in Oshkosh, WI
Aircraft: Beck P-51A, registration: N8082U
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Uninjured.

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.

On July 27, 2007, at 1519 central daylight time, an amateur-built Beck P-51A, Mustang, N8082U, was destroyed during landing approach when it impacted terrain after it collided into the empennage and fuselage of a North American P51-D, Mustang, N151RJ.

N151RJ had just landed on runway 36 (8,002 feet by 150 feet, grooved concrete) at the Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and was starting its landing roll when N8082U struck its empennage and fuselage. N8082U was still airborne at the time of the collision, and it rolled over to the right of the aft fuselage of N151RJ and impacted the terrain in a wings level, inverted attitude.

The collision with N8082U pushed N151RJ onto its nose, and N151RJ subsequently skidded down the runway and came to rest about 788 feet from the initial impact point. The pilot in N8082U received fatal injuries, and the pilot in N151RJ was not injured. Both Mustang airplanes departed from OSH as part of a five-aircraft air race demonstration event at the EAA AirVenture 2007 air show.

The demonstration air race was completed and the five aircraft were in the process of landing separately, and not in formation, on runway 36. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

Hans GeorgThe Federal Aviation Administration said the collision between the two P-51 Mustangs happened at 3:17 p.m. after the planes finished a performance at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture show.OSHKOSH, Wisconsin (AP) -- Two single-engine war planes at an experimental air show collided while landing Friday, killing one of the pilots and injuring the other, officials said.

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin (AP) -- Two single-engine war planes at an experimental air show collided while landing Friday, killing one of the pilots and injuring the other, officials said.

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin (AP) -- Two single-engine war planes at an experimental air show collided while landing Friday, killing one of the pilots and injuring the other, officials said.

Two planes collide while landing during the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture show.

1 of 2

The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision between the two P-51 Mustangs happened at 3:17 p.m. after the planes finished a performance at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture show.

P-51 Mustangs are single-seat fighters that were used in World War II.

FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board investigators were on the scene on Friday.

NTSB spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz said one pilot died and the other had minor injuries when the planes clipped wings on landing.

He said an NTSB investigator on the scene scheduled a news briefing Saturday afternoon at the Wittman Regional Airport terminal.

On Monday, a veteran pilot trying to break a speed record en route to Oshkosh was killed when his small, experimental plane crashed into an apartment building and playground in Switzerland.

The pilot, identified as Hans Georg Schmid, a former Swissair pilot, had been trying to break a world record for a solo single-engine flight. He had planned to fly more than 4,970 miles with a C1-D class of plane, aiming to reach his destination in 30 hours.

The annual convention is considered one of the world's largest gatherings of recreational aviators. It draws more than 600,000 people and 10,000 planes from around the world. The weeklong event ends Sunday.

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin (AP) -- Two single-engine war planes at an experimental air show collided while landing Friday, killing one of the pilots and injuring the other, officials said.

Two planes collide while landing during the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture show.

1 of 2

The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision between the two P-51 Mustangs happened at 3:17 p.m. after the planes finished a performance at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture show.

P-51 Mustangs are single-seat fighters that were used in World War II.

FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board investigators were on the scene on Friday.

NTSB spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz said one pilot died and the other had minor injuries when the planes clipped wings on landing.

He said an NTSB investigator on the scene scheduled a news briefing Saturday afternoon at the Wittman Regional Airport terminal.

On Monday, a veteran pilot trying to break a speed record en route to Oshkosh was killed when his small, experimental plane crashed into an apartment building and playground in Switzerland.

The pilot, identified as Hans Georg Schmid, a former Swissair pilot, had been trying to break a world record for a solo single-engine flight. He had planned to fly more than 4,970 miles with a C1-D class of plane, aiming to reach his destination in 30 hours.

The annual convention is considered one of the world's largest gatherings of recreational aviators. It draws more than 600,000 people and 10,000 planes from around the world. The weeklong event ends Sunday.

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin (AP) -- Two single-engine war planes at an experimental air show collided while landing Friday, killing one of the pilots and injuring the other, officials said.

Two planes collide while landing during the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture show.

1 of 2

The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision between the two P-51 Mustangs happened at 3:17 p.m. after the planes finished a performance at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture show.

P-51 Mustangs are single-seat fighters that were used in World War II.

FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board investigators were on the scene on Friday.

NTSB spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz said one pilot died and the other had minor injuries when the planes clipped wings on landing.

He said an NTSB investigator on the scene scheduled a news briefing Saturday afternoon at the Wittman Regional Airport terminal.

On Monday, a veteran pilot trying to break a speed record en route to Oshkosh was killed when his small, experimental plane crashed into an apartment building and playground in Switzerland.

The pilot, identified as Hans Georg Schmid, a former Swissair pilot, had been trying to break a world record for a solo single-engine flight. He had planned to fly more than 4,970 miles with a C1-D class of plane, aiming to reach his destination in 30 hours.

The annual convention is considered one of the world's largest gatherings of recreational aviators. It draws more than 600,000 people and 10,000 planes from around the world. The weeklong event ends Sunday.