Amateur-built Productmatch 80 P51D accident near Battle Ground, Washington, July 6, 2002
On July 6, 2002 at about 3:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Productmatch 80 P51D, registered N51PL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Battle Ground, Washington (Parkside Airpark 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 pilot's failure to maintain the proper airspeed (80 mph) on final approach resulting in a bounced landing and a loss of control during an attempted go-around and ultimately the on ground collision with a residence. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the attempted go-around maneuver and the residence (structure).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2002 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Battle Ground, Washington · Parkside Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Productmatch 80 P51D
- Registration
- N51PL · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner of the 80% scale North American P-51D experimental replica, entered the pattern for runway seven (2100 feet long - asphalt) establishing the aircraft at 95 miles per hour (mph) on the downwind with the landing gear and flaps down. He reduced airspeed to 90 mph turning base and then decelerated to 80 mph on final. Upon touchdown the aircraft bounced and began a left roll. The pilot applied full right rudder, full right aileron and full power in an attempt to recover. With the aircraft in a 30-degree left bank headed towards homes and trees he cut power and attempted an intentional left ground loop maneuver. The aircraft impacted a chain link fence and then penetrated the wall of a residence coming to rest inside a multi-car garage. The pilot had 356 hours of experience and numerous landings in the accident aircraft. He reported the winds as calm at the time of the landing. The pilot also reported that he allowed the airspeed to decelerate below the "critical 80-mph threshold speed."
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: 2,001 hours in all; 356 in this make and model; 1,948 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 18, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 356 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2002; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLS Kelso WA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: WA87 Battle Ground WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 2,100 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from PDX, 13 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.
Other NTSB records under N51PL 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.