STATE COLLEGE, PA, USA
N51WE
NORTH AMERICAN F-51D
N51WE, A NORTH AMERICAN F-51D TOOK OFF AS THE SECOND SHIP OF A TWO SHIP FLIGHT WITH N6341T, ANOTHER F-51D. THEY WERE OBSERVED CLIMBING IN FORMATION INTO THE CLOUDS. N6341T ASSUMED COMMUNICATIONS AND SAID THEY WERE A FLIGHT OF 2 AND OK, AFTER ATC WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT N51WE. WITNESSES WERE FOUND WHO SAW AND HEARD AN AIRCRAFT TRAVELING NORTH AND EXPERIENCING ENGINE TROUBLE. WITNESSES ALSO SAID THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE OBSCURED. N51WE WAS FOUND NEAR THE TOP OF A WOODED HILL SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT FATALLY INJURED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT THERE WAS ONE FOULED SPARK PLUG, HOWEVER, THE MAGNETOS AND CARBURATOR WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE WX OBSERVATION SITE WAS 6 MILES SOUTH OF THE ACC SITE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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