MIDLAND, Texas (May 29, 2004) – A Commemorative Air Force (CAF) operated single-engine World War II North American P-51C Mustang, N61429, made an off-airport emergency landing at approximately 2:10 p.m. (Central Daylight Savings Time) on Saturday, May 29, 2004. The airplane was participating in the Wings of Freedom Airshow at the Red Wing Regional Airport located between Red Wing, Minn. and Bay City, Wis.
Emergency medical, law enforcement and fire crews were on site at the airport and responded immediately. The pilot of the airplane, a CAF member, was air lifted to a local hospital. The pilot’s condition is unknown at this time. The FAA is currently investigating the accident.
The airshow was cancelled for the rest of the day, however, will continue as scheduled for Sunday, May 30, 2004.
The P-51C Mustang, named “Tuskegee Airmen” after the well known Tuskegee Airmen who flew P-51Cs in World War II, is based out of Fleming Field in So. Saint Paul, Minn., and operated by the Minnesota Wing of the CAF. Manufactured by North American Aviation in Dallas, Texas, the airplane was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944 and is one of four P-51C models left in existence. According to CAF records the aircraft was donated to the CAF sometime during 1970. The Minnesota Wing of the CAF acquired the airplane in 1988 and completed restoration of the airplane in 2001.
The CAF has two other P-51 Mustangs in its collection. The P-51D known as “Red Nose” and the P-51D known as “Gunfighter.” The P-51 “Gunfighter” was also appearing at the airshow at the time of the accident.