NTSB Update on P-51 Mustang Collision

Editorial Staff

Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

An accident involving two P-51 Mustangs occurred at EAA AirVenture during showcase flights on Friday afternoon.
Pilot Gerald Beck, 58, was killed when his P-51A hit Casey Odegaard's P-51D from behind during landing on Runway 36L, causing Beck's plane to flip and catch fire; Odegaard, 24, sustained minor injuries.
The NTSB is currently investigating the crash, reviewing video and photos submitted by witnesses, and will issue preliminary and factual reports.

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In a press briefing Saturday afternoon, NTSB air safety inspector Jim Silliman said the Safety Board is still very much in the investigation stage of Friday afternoon’s accident involving two P-51 Mustangs participating in the showcase flights at EAA AirVenture. EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski said Gerald Beck, 58, of Wahpeton, N.D., was killed in the fiery crash and Casey Odegaard, 24, of Kindred, N.D., suffered only minor injuries. Silliman said both airplanes were landing on Runway 36L at Oshkosh Wittman Regional Airport when Beck’s P-51A hit Odegaard’s P-51D from behind before flipping over and catching fire.

As expected, several airshow watchers caught the accident on camera or video camcorders, and Silliman said the NTSB is now reviewing a video and several photos submitted to investigators. He said the Safety Board will issue a preliminary report soon, followed by a factual report in about 12 months.