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Topcroft Farm Airstrip, near Hardwick Airfield, Norfolk -
United Kingdom
Phase:
Approach
Nature:
Private
Departure airport:
Topcroft Farm Airstrip, near Hardwick Airfield, Norfolk
Destination airport:
Topcroft Farm Airstrip, near Hardwick Airfield, Norfolk
Investigating agency:
AAIB
Confidence Rating:
Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative: North American P-51D Mustang "Janie" was destroyed when it impacted the ground near Hardwick Airfield, a former RAF station 16 miles south of Norwich. There was a post-crash fire. The pilot was killed.
"The aircraft was returning to a private airstrip and, on landing, bounced twice before attempting to go around. The aircraft had been subjected to a crosswind from the right during its approach and on go-around flew a flight path increasingly diverging to the left, away from the airstrip. It remained at low level until it struck a tree close to the airstrip. The passenger was fatally injured and the pilot survived with serious injuries. There was no evidence of any aircraft system failure or malfunction which could have contributed to the accident. The accident was most likely a result of loss of directional control due to a combination of crosswind and effects of applying go-around power whilst the aircraft was at low speed. The investigation identified other aspects concerning the safety clothing to be worn in ex-military aircraft."
=Damage to airframe= Per the AAIB report "aircraft destroyed". However, as can be seen from the "aircraft history below", this aircraft was rebuilt, re-registered as G-CLNV and first flew again after rebuild on 25 August 2023.
G-MSTG was built for the USAAF as 45-11518 but never saw service. The P-51D was transferred to the RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force) on 27 August 1945, and became NZ2427, but again was put into storage (disassembled and crated) and not used immediately. As NZ2427, this P-51D was assembled, but again was not used, being stored at Rukuhia and Woodbourne. Subsequent history 1958 to 2023 was as follows: 1958: (May) Struck off charge and sold under the GSB Tender Number 5926 for $160NZ (then £80 GBP) to ANAS Co, Nelson NZ 1958: Peter Coleman/Barry North, North Blenheim NZ, complete aircraft, stored 1960: Peter Coleman, North Blenheim NZ 1973: dismantled and stored 1990: Tim Wallis/Alpine Fighter Collection, Wanaka NZ, began restoration 1997: (Feb 9), registered as G-MSTG, Maurice Hammond, Eye, Suffolk, UK, restoration in UK 2001: Complete restoration to WWII stock standard including guns, sights, etc. 2001: (Jul 14), first flight after restoration completed Marked as ‘414419/LH-F’ with the name Janie 2016: (Oct 2), crashed, Hardwick Airfield - Norfolk UK, crashed on landing, post-fire, preliminary reports: 1 serious - pilot, 1 fatal - Passenger John Marshall (as per details above) 2020: (Jun 24): Re-registered G-CLNV, Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd, Graham Peacock, Dunmow, Essex, UK Restoration at Air Leasing 2021: As G-CLNV, put up for sale, W Air Collection 2023: (Aug 25): First-Flight at Sywell Aerodrome, Northants., UK - Rebuilt as a TF-51D. After the test flight, 45-11518 was flown to her new home, La Ferte Alais, France.