Amateur-built P51 MUSTANG accident near North Rose, New York, June 15, 1997
On June 15, 1997 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built P51 MUSTANG, registered N515JB, was destroyed in an accident near North Rose, New York (Farnsworth 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
was the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in the airplane striking trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1997 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- North Rose, New York · Farnsworth Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built P51 MUSTANG P51 MUSTAN
- Registration
- N515JB · no longer on the register · serial 5683570
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the hand held Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver fell from the instrument panel and jammed the flight control. The airplane then departed the runway and struck trees. An FAA inspector reported that when he examined the airplane, the GPS was not in the flight controls, and he was unable to confirm the pilot's statements.
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
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 80 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1995; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 980 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8B4 at 3:30 pm
- Destination: B16 Weedsport NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,415 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from ROC
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.