North American F-51D accident near Van Nuys, California, August 6, 1985
On August 6, 1985 at about 10:15 pm local time, a North American F-51D, registered N6175C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was a personal 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
- August 6, 1985 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American F-51D · all F-51Ds on the register
- Registration
- N6175C · no longer on the register · serial 45-11558
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE HIS FIRST, SOLO, TAKE OFF IN THE F-51D MODEL ACFT. THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE & IMMEDIATELY ATTAINED A NOISE HIGH PITCH ATTITUDE. THE ANGLE OF ATTACK WAS THEN REDUCED & THE ACFT BOUNCED HARD OFF THE RWY BLOWING OUT ITS RIGHT MAIN TIRE. THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT, & AS IT YAWED LEFT, DRAGGING ITS WING TIP ON THE GROUND, IT VEERED OFF THE RWY & COLLIDED WITH THE ARPT'S VASI INSTALLATION.
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: 290 hours in all; 92 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 124 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,813 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 1985; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls-Royce V1650-7 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:10 pm from VNY
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.
Other NTSB records under N6175C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.