Amateur-built P-51-D accident near Victorville, California, October 28, 1994
On October 28, 1994 at about 6:12 pm local time, a amateur-built P-51-D, registered N4451C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Victorville, California (Southern California Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1994 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Victorville, California · Southern California Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built P-51-D
- Registration
- N4451C · no longer on the register · serial 44-7444
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHT. BEFORE LANDING THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE SURFACE WINDS WERE 90 DEGREES TO THE LANDING RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND GROUND LOOPED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO GO-AROUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,555 hours in all; 825 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 401 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,525 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 1994; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Packard V-1650-7 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA at 5:55 pm
- Destination: VCV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 10,000 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.