P-51C damaged in belly landing — news reports

The pilot has confirmed he made an error during landing and the gear lever wasn’t moved until after the prop had already struck the runway, gear in transit then resulted in veering off runway and more damage than a simple belly slide would have caused. He has my respect.

Just my two cents, but with the prop that close to the airframe, I’m guessing it detached on landing.

Lost it’s prop (quite literally) on takeoff!

The reports to which you link report that the aircraft made a wheels up landing which then resulted in the prop detaching. Is there some other evidence / report then to suggest otherwise, as you mention it detached on t/o? The way I read the report is that it lost the prop when it departed the runway onto the grass during the wheels up landing.

Tim

At least no one was hurt

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/World-War-II-Era-P-51-Mustang-Makes-Belly-Landing-at-Dallas-Executive-Airport-367529111.html

http://www.ww2aero.com/p-51c-performs-wheels-up-landing-in-dallas/

Lost it’s prop (quite literally) on takeoff!