Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Urbana, Indiana 46990
Thursday, February 20, 2003 17:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted a corn field after witnesses reported seeing the airplane in aerobatic maneuvers when it entered into a spin. Flight control continuity was confirmed to the cockpit. The airplane was resting inverted with its landing gear in the extended and locked position. According to the airplane instruction manual, power off-spins are permitted provided that such spins are started above 12,000 feet; intentional power-on spins are prohibited. The pilot who was equipped with a parachute remained retrained in the cockpit by his restraint harness.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in a spin.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/20/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1705
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Urbana
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46990
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405330N
Event Location Longitude 0854000W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1654 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID FWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 803
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.22
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15282
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 20 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1750
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office South Bend FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N93TF
NTSB Number CHI03LA074
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name North American/Aero Classics
Aircraft Model P-51D
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 44-72922
Certified Max Gross Weight 10500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Mar 13 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 668
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James J Shuttleworth
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5133 W 500 N
Aircraft Owner City Huntington
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46750
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HHG
Departure City Huntington
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1655
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 24 2004 4:54PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --