Miller S.A.L. 2/3 MUSTANG accident near Erie, Colorado, March 19, 1989
On March 19, 1989, a Miller S.A.L. 2/3 MUSTANG, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N51RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Colorado (Tri-County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. SOFT UNEVEN TERRAIN WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1989
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · Tri-County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Miller S.A.L. 2/3 MUSTANG S.A.L. 2/3, amateur-built
- Registration
- N51RM · no longer on the register · serial 92
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A LOCAL FLT IN HIS HOMEBUILT 2/3 SCALE P-51 MUSTANG. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB FROM RWY 33, THE ENG SPUTTERED & QUIT. THE PLT SAID HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS & TRIED A RESTART, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE PLANE WAS LANDED IN A PLOWED FIELD WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE TERRAIN, THE PLANE CARTWHEELED & BOTH WINGS FOLDED OVER THE CANOPY. A POST ACCIDENT ENG INSPN BY THE OWNER & THE BUILDER FAILED TO REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE RPRTD ENG FAILURE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,641 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 6,573 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Fairchild 6-440-C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 48V
- Destination: 48V
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,280 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.