NorthAmericanNavion

At about 1626 Pacific time, an experimental North America P-51D impacted terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Casualties on the ground included 10 fatalities and 74 injured. As of the time of this preliminary report, eight of the injured remain hospitalized, some in critical condition. Visual conditions prevailed for the local air race flight.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted the Gulf of Mexico at 1218 Central time. The commercial pilot and passenger were killed. Visual conditions prevailed. Several witnesses reported the airplane had been performing aerobatic maneuvers along the beach. Just prior to the accident, the airplane was flying east along the beach, then turned west with its “smoke on.”

At about 1255 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed following impact with terrain. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Four witnesses observed the airplane performing aerobatic maneuvers for approximately 15 minutes at an altitude too high to make out details. They observed the airplane pull up vertically and perform a wing-over or roll-type maneuver.

The airplane crashed into a restaurant at about 1010 Eastern time and was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire; the private pilot and sole occupant was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses near the crash site reported low clouds in the area and seeing the airplane emerge from them. The airplane was then observed banking right, then descending until it impacted a parking lot, then traveled into the restaurant where an explosion was heard.

At about 14:20 Pacific time, a North American Navion crashed near Santa Ysabel, killing the pilot. IMC prevailed but the pilot was not instrument rated and no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses said they heard the sound of a low-flying airplane for a few seconds before it came out of clouds with the nose pointing down more than 75 degrees. The nose of the airplane pulled up a bit just before the airplane disappeared behind a ridgeline and crashed. The airplane apparently did not break up before impact….