[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Definitely something hanging loose on the P-51's left elevator assembly.

[PilotDave]

That is the best photo I’ve seen showing the plane just prior to impact. There are some photo shopped one floating around.

[aviator]

It resembles a P-51 but it is NOT a P-51.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

I have a few hours in a P-51, what a machine in the air..takes some time to get used to it on the ground... From the picture one wonders how that could have caused the accident but the words of a fellow aviator while I was on active duty sitting on an accident board ring true as the board President (Full Colonel) was grilling this poor Captain....too which the Captain replied: Colonel you just had to be there and flying the airplane to understand what happened. I suspect that will be the case here.

[agincourt1415]

Some people posting don't understand. Its not an OLD Airplane. Yes, it was completely rebuild and modified. And 5ft of Wing was cut off each wing to increase speed. When you do that your airplane is less stable.

Less control, and the trim tab comes off, its trouble with a capital T. It was a split second uncontrollable condition. Add in the speed of 400 plus MPH and disaster.

I heard that trying to pull out would have put him deeper in the crowd on the crash trajectory. They will probably have a computer model of the whole event soon.

[agincourt1415]

Some people posting don't understand. Its not an OLD Airplane. Yes, it was completely rebuild and modified. And 5ft of Wing was cut off each wing to increase speed. When you do that your airplane is less stable.

Less control, and the trim tab comes off, its trouble with a capital T. It was a split second uncontrollable condition. Add in the speed of 400 plus MPH and disaster.

I heard that trying to pull out would have put him deeper in the crowd on the crash trajectory. They will probably have a computer model of the whole event soon.