Thunder Mustang TM-1 N151WR

Summary

On 4 January 2020 at about 18:09 local time, a Thunder Mustang TM-1 registered N151WR was involved in an accident near Santa Clarita, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 January 2020 at 18:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Clarita, California, United States

Coordinates

34.3658, -118.5025

Aircraft

Thunder Mustang TM-1

Registration

N151WR

Category

Airplane

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Van Nuys → Van Nuys

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20FA057

1 person died.

Engine detonation that resulted in material deformation of the crankcase and led to engine failure and restricted cockpit visibility.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed for flight in an amateur-built experimental airplane. A few minutes after takeoff, the pilot made a distress call to the airport tower controller stating a loss of engine power and a cockpit visibility issue. A witness observed the airplane maneuvering at a low altitude with smoke trailing from the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane struck a tree and impacted terrain in a grassy field located in the median of an interstate’s off-ramp, destroying the airplane. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed damage that was consistent with detonation. One cylinder had material deformation that had burnt through the crankcase. Other cylinders had varying degrees of material deformation on their piston faces and cylinder heads, and the piston faces, and cylinder heads were absent of any carbon buildup. During the forced landing, the hole in the crankcase would have leaked coolant and oil, creating smoke and limiting the visibility from the cockpit, which likely would have prevented the pilot from seeing and avoiding the tree. The specific reason for the detonation could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.