Accident Details
On July 21, 2024, about 1754 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Titan T-51 Mustang, registration N751TX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near the Germack Airport (7D9), Geneva, Ohio. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91.
Witness Accounts
According to a private pilot who witnessed the accident flight, he planned to complete a demonstration flight with the accident pilot. Prior to the flight, the accident pilot had performed maintenance on the airplane, including work on the pitot static system and a fuel filter replacement. The private pilot reported that the accident pilot completed several run-ups and ground taxi runs, which appeared normal. After the run-ups, the pilot checked the oil, noticed it was low, and added oil.
The accident pilot then departed for a brief flight to ensure everything was functional. The private pilot observed the accident pilot perform several maneuvers over the airport, including aileron rolls and a few laps above the airport, estimated to be at least 3,000 ft mean sea level or higher.
The private pilot then observed the airplane descend to approach runway 1 for a lower pass. He saw the airplane fly over most of runway 1, then engine power increased, and the airplane pitched up into a pull-up maneuver. When the airplane pitched up, he heard the engine go to a “super high RPM” and then the “entire prop hub shatters.” He observed several parts and pieces explode from the nose section, and the engine noise subsequently went silent.
The private pilot observed the airplane turn left, complete a 180° turn, and descend toward a road about 1/4 mile west of the runway, eventually turning out of his view while flying southbound. He believed the pilot was navigating toward the road for an emergency landing.
Another witness, driving northbound on the road about 1/4 mile west of the airport, heard the sound of an airplane engine that seemed to be “over spooling.” As he continued northbound, he observed the accident airplane approaching the road directly toward him flying southbound. He pulled off the road to the west, and about the same time, the airplane maneuvered slightly to the east. Shortly thereafter, he observed the airplane’s left wing “clip” an elevated tree branch near the road. Subsequently, the airplane rolled over and impacted terrain inverted. The witness observed that the airplane’s right landing gear was down, the left landing gear appeared to be in transit and coming down, and the wings were wobbling up and down.
Aircraft Damage
The main wreckage came to rest inverted in a wooded area about 30 ft east of a county road. The initial impact point coincided with elevated tree branches about 250 ft north of the main wreckage. All major airframe portions were located in the debris path. There was no evidence of fire. Three propeller blades were located a few hundred feet north of runway 1, and one blade fell onto runway 1. Fragments of engine cowling were located on and north of runway 1.
Flight control continuity was confirmed for all control surfaces. The right landing gear was found extended and locked, and the left landing gear was found partially extended. Evidence of oil spray and an oil coating was observed on the belly of the fuselage, left wing, oil cooler area, tailwheel assembly, and elevator. The landing gear handle was down. The throttle lever was found pulled mostly aft towards idle. The propeller control was found full forward. A Dynon Avionics EFIS-D10A was recovered mostly undamaged.
The airplane was equipped with an experimental General Motors Corvette LS3, V8, 300-hp engine and a Titan Aircraft Autoflight 1.9 gearbox. The engine demonstrated internal continuity from its forward to aft section when the gearbox attachment area was rotated by hand. The gearbox had separated from the engine and was located about 10 ft forward of the main wreckage. Its drive gears rotated normally. The propeller hub remained attached to the gearbox and had fractured.
The engine was equipped with a 4-blade composite propeller, manufactured by Whirl Wind Standard. All four propeller blades remained mostly intact, displaying varying degrees of gouging and impact-related tears and cuts. Two propeller blades separated at the propeller hub with no portion of hub structure retained; the other two retained fragments of hub structure at their bases.
Pilot Information
According to FAA airman records, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and sea. He also held a flight instructor certificate and a repairman experimental aircraft builder for the accident airplane. He was issued a 2nd class medical certificate on October 26, 2023. He reported 12,500 flight hours at the time of the medical examination and 100 hours logged within the last six months.
The airplane was retained for further examination.