Amateur-built P51 accident near Conestee, South Carolina, June 16, 2001
On June 16, 2001 at about 1:09 pm local time, a amateur-built P51, registered N251RB, was destroyed in an accident near Conestee, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Partial loss of engine power due to an engine cylinder experiencing detonation resulting in a forced landing to none suitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2001 · about 1:09 pm local time
- Place
- Conestee, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built P51
- Registration
- N251RB · registry record · serial 475098RB
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness stated he observed the airplane on the take off roll. The engine did not sound like it was running correctly (missing sound). As the airplane became airborne the missing sound became worse. The airplane reached between 1,000 to 2,000feet when the right wing dropped. Another witness on a golf course stated the engine was spitting and sputtering before it became silent. The airplane appeared to be rocking back and forth and disappeared from view behind a tree line. A friend of the pilot stated he observed the airplane depart from the airport. A puff of black smoke was observed from the vicinity of the engine exhaust stack. The airplane continued to climb and more smoke was observed. The friend informed the pilot of the smoke and instructed him by radio to return to a closed runway. The airplane started a right 90 to 110 degree roll, and the nose dropped to the near vertical position before the airplane disappeared from view below the tree line and crashed. Examination of the airframe and flight controls revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. Examination of the engine assembly revealed the No. 1cylinder intake and exhaust valves had signs of melted metal, and the push rods were bent. The No. 1 cylinder piston was heavily damaged and showed signs of detonation.
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: 1,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ford 460 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GYH Conestee SC at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from GMU, 10 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.