North American P-51 MUSTANG X accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, July 1, 1984
On July 1, 1984 at about 3:30 pm local time, a North American P-51 MUSTANG X, registered N21770, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Mt. Comfort airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1984 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Mt. Comfort
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American P-51 MUSTANG X P-51 MUSTA · all P-51 MUSTANG Xs on the register
- Registration
- N21770 · no longer on the register · serial AEA-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BOUNCED LANDING OCCURED DURING WHICH THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED FOLLOWED BY A GROUND LOOP.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 15 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 1984; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ranger V770 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 21N2 Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from IND, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.