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.]

FMI: http://www.wingsoffreedom.info