Airplane Had Been Engaged In A Flyover At The National Museum Of The Pacific War

Two people were fatally injured Saturday when the P-51D "Pecos Bill" they were aboard went down in an apartment complex parking lot following a flyover of the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX.

The Associated Press reports that the aircraft was returning to land after performing the flyover at a living history show at the museum. Images captured at the accident scene show parts of the plan sitting on top of parked cars. There were no reports of deaths or injuries to people on the ground as a result of the accident.

Museum director Rorie Cartier told the AP in an email that one of the people on board the P-51D had been a veteran. He said in a tweet that the museum is "extremely saddened by the unfortunate accident this afternoon that claimed the lives of two wonderful people. We express our deepest condolences to the families of both on board.”

According to the Pecos Bill website, the mission for the airplane was to provide complimentary Freedom Flights to WWII Veterans and Purple Heart Recipients to thank them for their service to our country, along with fly-over tributes at WWII Veterans' funerals & events.

The NTSB said the accident occurred about 3:15 p.m. local time. The pilot was identified in a Facebook post as Cowden Ward Jr. of Burnet, TX. The passenger has not been identified.

(Image from Facebook)

FMI: Source report, Source report, www.p51pecosbill.org