North American P-51D and Cessna 172 accident near Van Nuys, California, December 4, 1989
On December 4, 1989, 2 aircraft, North American P-51D (N5415V) and Cessna 172 (N5364K), were involved in the same accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE P-51 PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE STANDING C-172.
THE P-51 PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE STANDING C-172.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 1989
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- North American P-51D · all P-51Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5415V · no longer on the register · serial 45553
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5364K · registry record · serial 17274082
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the North American P-51D final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE C-172, N5364K, HAD JUST LANDED ON RWY 34R AND HAD PULLED OFF ONTO TAXIWAY 7E, SHORT OF TAXIWAY E. THEY WERE INSTRUCTED BY TOWER TO HOLD SHORT OF TAXIWAY E FOR NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON TAXIWAY E. THE P-51, N5415V, HAD JUST LANDED ON RWY 34L AND HAD PULLED OFF ONTO TAXIWAY 7F BETWEEN THE TWO PARALLEL RUNWAYS. THEY SWITCHED TO GROUND AND WERE CLEARED TO CROSS 34R. THE P-51 COLLIDED WITH THE REAR OF THE C-172.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE C-172, N5364K, HAD JUST LANDED ON RWY 34R AND HAD PULLED OFF ONTO TAXIWAY 7E, SHORT OF TAXIWAY E. THEY WERE INSTRUCTED BY TOWER TO HOLD SHORT OF TAXIWAY E FOR NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON TAXIWAY E. THE P-51, N5415V, HAD JUST LANDED ON RWY 34L AND HAD PULLED OFF ONTO TAXIWAY 7F BETWEEN THE TWO PARALLEL RUNWAYS. THEY SWITCHED TO GROUND AND WERE CLEARED TO CROSS 34R. THE P-51 COLLIDED WITH THE REAR OF THE C-172.
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 for the North American P-51D from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 450 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 1650-V-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Sacramento CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 34, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.