North American P-51D accident near Tarkio, Missouri, July 9, 2005
On July 9, 2005 at about 3:30 pm local time, a North American P-51D, registered N10607, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tarkio, Missouri (Peterson Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2005 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tarkio, Missouri · Peterson Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American P-51D · all P-51Ds on the register
- Registration
- N10607 · registry record · serial 4474466
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with the terrain following a loss of engine power on takeoff. The pilot reported that he experienced a total loss of engine power at an altitude of about 50 above the ground on takeoff. He stated that he banked to the left to avoid a 30 foot dike off the end of the runway. He stated that when he banked the airplane, the left wing contacted the ground. The airplane then rocked to the right and the right wing contacted the ground prior to the airplane coming to rest. Inspection of the airplane and engine failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of engine power.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 22,800 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,146 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005; 16 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Packard Merlin (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K57 Tarkio MO
- Destination: LNK Lincoln NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,773 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from STJ, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N10607 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI05LA177.