NTSB Update on P-51 Mustang Collision

Editorial Staff

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

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Key Takeaways:

A fatal accident occurred at EAA AirVenture involving two P-51 Mustangs during landing, resulting in the death of 58-year-old pilot Gerald Beck and minor injuries to 24-year-old pilot Casey Odegaard.
The incident happened when Beck's P-51A struck Odegaard's P-51D from behind on Runway 36L, causing Beck's aircraft to flip and catch fire.
The NTSB is actively investigating the crash, reviewing submitted video and photographic evidence, and plans to issue a preliminary report soon, followed by a factual report in about 12 months.

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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.