North American P-51 accident near Seattle, Washington, July 14, 1990
On July 14, 1990 at about 9:05 pm local time, a North American P-51, registered NX51VC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seattle, Washington (Boeing Field). 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
AN ENCOUNTER WITH VORTEX TURBULENCE WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1990 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Boeing Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American P-51 · all P-51s on the register
- Registration
- NX51VC · no longer on the register · serial 44-74502A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN P-51D ENCOUNTERED VORTEX TURBULENCE WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH BEHIND A HAWKER SEA FURY WHILE CONDUCTING A FORMATION LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED 70 TO 75 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED RECOVERY, BUT HIS CONTROL AUTHORITY WAS INSUFFICENT TO RECOVER. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RUNWAY WITH THE LEFT WING LOW AT ABOUT 45 DEGREES LEFT BANK, DAMAGING THE LEFT WING AND PARTIALLY COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,500 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 215 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days
- 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: 8,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Packard V-1650-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31L, 10,001 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from BFI
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.