Amateur-built 80-P51D accident near Scapp00Se, Oregon, March 10, 1994
On March 10, 1994 at about 1:00 am local time, a amateur-built 80-P51D, registered N51PL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scapp00Se, Oregon (Scappoose Industrial 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 INADVERTENT UNLOCKING OF THE TAILWHEEL LOCK. FACTORS INCLUDE THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE TAILWHEEL LOCK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 1994 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Scapp00Se, Oregon · Scappoose Industrial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 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 AIRCRAFT'S TAILWHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM INADVERTENTLY UNLOCKED EITHER DURING FLIGHT OR UPON TOUCHDOWN FOR THE FULL-STOP LANDING. WITH THE TAILWHEEL FREE TO PIVOT, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED FROM OVERLOAD. THE PILOT/MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HE WOULD NOW REDESIGN THE MECHANISM SO THAT IT COULD NOT BE ACCIDENTALLY UNLOCKED.
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: 1,631 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 1,578 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 25, 1994; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLS Kelso WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.