North American P51-D accident near Lincolnton, North Carolina, September 6, 2001
On September 6, 2001 at about 3:20 pm local time, a North American P51-D, registered N551CB, was destroyed in an accident near Lincolnton, North Carolina (Lincoln County Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A cooling system failure, that resulted in a total loss of coolant and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2001 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lincolnton, North Carolina · Lincoln County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American P51-D · all P51-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N551CB · registry record · serial 45-11381N
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While cruising at 8,000 feet, the pilot noticed coolant on the windshield. While descending through the clouds toward the nearest airport, the airplane's cockpit filled with smoke and condensation. The airplane broke out of the clouds at approximately 1,200 feet, and the pilot headed it toward an unpopulated wooded area. The airplane's engine seized as the pilot and passenger prepared to bail out, and they were thrown clear. Both the pilot and passenger pulled their parachute ripcords and fell into trees. Examination of the wreckage revealed the cowl flap was crushed in the open position. A small amount of fluid was found in the radiator. The water pump and accessory assembly were destroyed.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,819 hours in all; 410 in this make and model; 157 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 22,169 as pilot in command; 1,050 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 9,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Packard Rolls Royce V-1650-7 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RUQ Salisbury NC at 3:03 pm
- Destination: SGH Springfield OH
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 2:59 pm from KIPJ, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.