A magnificent airplane and a fine pilot are no
more. Pilot James J. Shuttleworth (right), 65, was killed in the
impact of a TF-51 (Dual Control) Mustang, N93TF. The accident
occurred Thursday, February 20th, about 1705 local time, in a field
south of Ind. 16 near County Road 500E in Wabash, Indiana.
Witnesses indicate the aircraft was maneuvering aggressively
shortly before the accident but that the impact occurred gear-down
and with no discernable aircraft power. The debris pattern was
fairly well contained, only scattered some 25 or 30 yards across a
vacant field, and the aircraft reportedly impacted in a very
pitch-negative attitude. VFR conditions were present at the time of
the accident.
Scat VII was a featured exhibit at the Wings of Freedom aviation
museum in Huntington, Indiana, at the Huntington airport. Scat VII
started life as a a P-51D Mustang, and was flown in combat by World
War II fighter pilot ace Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF,
Retired. General Olds had 24 kills with the 434th Fighter Squadron,
479th Fight Group with the 8th Air Force in Wittisham England from
May 1944 to 1945. The last 4 kills while flying in Scat VII. This
Squadron had a total of 49 air victories and 127½ ground
victories. It was later modified to the dual control "TF" spec
after its service to our nation came to an end.
ANN expresses its condolences to all those who knew and cared
for this fine aviator...
**Report created 2/24/03 Record 16**
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 93TF Make/Model: P51 Description: P-51,
F-51, A-36 Mustang
Date: 02/20/2003 Time: 2205
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
Fatal Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: URBANA State: IN Country:
US
DESCRIPTION
ACFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, ONE POB SUFFERED FATAL
INJURIES, URBANA, IN
INJURY DATA Total
Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat:
1 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat:
0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
# Grnd:
Fat: 0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
WEATHER: METAR OKK 202155Z 21007KT 10SM CLR 04/02 A3022
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown
Operation: General Aviation
Departed: UNK Dep Date: Dep.
Time:
Destination: UNK Flt Plan: UNK Wx
Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: UNK Last Clearance: UNK
FAA FSDO: INDIANAPOLIS, IN (GL11) Entry date:
02/24/2003
[Many thanks to EAA's Dick Knapinski and the excellent EAA photo
staff for the use of the photographs accompanying this news
report.]