How many accidents has the North American P51 had?

The NTSB has recorded 7 events involving the North American P51: 2 fatal, 2 serious, 1 minor injuries, and 2 incidents with no injuries.

Is the North American P51 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The North American P51 has 7 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

North American P51 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 7 events recorded from 1987 to 2022.

All Events

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (3 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Dec 27, 2022	Brookshire, TX	N3333E	Incident	substantial	The P51 pilot’s failure to see and avoid the PA46 during taxi operations.
Nov 17, 2018	Fredericksburg, TX	N4132A	Fatal (2)	destroyed	The pilot's decision to perform a low-level maneuver at an altitude where he was unable to recover the airplane before impacting terrain.
Oct 23, 2014	Mesa, AZ	N351BD	Incident	minor	The failure of the left main landing gear to extend, which resulted in a gear-up landing. The reason for the left main landing gear’s failure to opera… The failure of the left main landing gear to extend, which resulted in a gear-up landing. The reason for the left main landing gear’s failure to operate normally could not be determined because postincident examination of the landing gear system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Mar 11, 2010	Chandler, AZ	N514NH	Fatal (1)	substantial	The pilot’s improper flare, resulting in a bounced landing, stall, and loss of directional control.
Sep 06, 2001	Lincolnton, NC	N551CB	Serious (1)	destroyed	A cooling system failure, that resulted in a total loss of coolant and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain … A cooling system failure, that resulted in a total loss of coolant and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.
Sep 03, 1989	MAR VISTA, CA	N51MR	Serious (2)	substantial	THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING IN ATTEMPTING TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND NOT FOLLOWING ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES AFTER THE LOSS OF POWE… THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING IN ATTEMPTING TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND NOT FOLLOWING ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER AFTER TAKEOFF. THE FAILURE OF AN INTAKE VALVE WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Apr 03, 1987	ASHFORK, AZ	N1451D	Minor	substantial	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 P51 Safety Record

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