How many accidents has the North American P-51D had?

The NTSB has recorded 19 events involving the North American P-51D: 8 fatal, 1 serious, 2 minor injuries, and 8 incidents with no injuries.

Is the North American P-51D a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The North American P-51D has 19 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

North American P-51D Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 19 events recorded from 1982 to 2016.

All Events

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (13 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Oct 02, 2016	East Anglia, UK	G-MSTG	Fatal (1)	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 12, 1994	RENO, NV	N51U	Fatal (1)	destroyed	the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an attempted forced landing. Factors in the accident were the failure of a propeller blade-fe… the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an attempted forced landing. Factors in the accident were the failure of a propeller blade-feathering oil seal which leaked oil on the windshield, obscuring the pilot's vision.
Sep 29, 1990	CHATHAM, MA	N51U	Fatal (2)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCELERATED STALL AND LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL.
Jul 18, 1990	MAYER, MN	N512ED	Fatal (2)	destroyed	UNDETERMINED
Jun 23, 1990	ABILENE, TX	N12700	Fatal (1)	destroyed	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING AFTER A LOW PASS, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTI… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING AFTER A LOW PASS, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Jun 26, 1987	LUDINGTON, MI	N3278D	Fatal (2)	destroyed	Investigation pending
Nov 17, 1984	NEW HAVEN, MI	N51JL	Fatal (2)	destroyed	Investigation pending
Jul 15, 1984	CARBONDALE, CO	N5449V	Fatal (2)	destroyed	Investigation pending

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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North American P-51D Safety Record

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