CAF P-51 Crash

MIDLAND, Texas (May 30, 2004)  – A Commemorative Air Force (CAF) operated single-engine World War II North American P-51C Mustang, N61429, made an off-airport emergency landing at approximately 2:10 p.m. (Central Daylight Savings Time) on Saturday, May 29, 2004. The airplane was participating in the Wings of Freedom Airshow at the Red Wing Regional Airport located between Red Wing, Minn. and Bay City, Wis.  

Emergency medical, law enforcement and fire crews were on site and responded immediately. The pilot of the airplane, Don Hinz, a CAF member, was air lifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. He died at approximately 4:20 a.m. on Sunday, May 30, 2004, due to injuries sustained from the accident. There were no other passengers aboard the airplane.  

The FAA is currently investigating the accident.  The airshow was cancelled immediately following the accident, but will continue as scheduled on Sunday, May 30, 2004. A press conference will be held at 4 p.m., at the Terminal Building of Red Wing Regional Airport 

Hinz, age 60, of Woodbury, Minn., was passionately devoted to his wife and family of four boys. He was a retired Naval aviator, former airline pilot from Braniff and Sun Country Airlines, and a successful entrepreneur. He played a major role in the fundraising, educational, restoration and outreach programs of the P-51C Mustang, as well as worked diligently to bring the aircraft and the message of the Tuskegee Airmen to the public.  

The P-51C Mustang, named “Tuskegee Airmen” after the well known Tuskegee Airmen who flew P-51Cs in World War II, is based out of Fleming Field in So. Saint Paul, Minn., and operated by the Minnesota Wing of the CAF. Manufactured by North American Aviation in Dallas, Texas, the airplane was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944 and is one of four P-51C models left in existence. According to CAF records the aircraft was donated to the CAF sometime during 1970. The Minnesota Wing of the CAF acquired the airplane in 1988 and completed restoration of the airplane in 2001.  

The CAF has two other P-51 Mustangs in its collection. The P-51D known as “Red Nose” and the P-51D known as “Gunfighter.”  The P-51 “Gunfighter” was also appearing at the airshow at the time of the accident. 

The CAF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to flying and restoring World War II aircraft. Based in Midland, Texas, the organization has over 10,000 members and operates a fleet of over 150 World War II aircraft  

For more information please contact Tim Barzen or Brad Lang at (715) 594-3701. After Sunday, May 30, 2004, please contact Tina Corbett at (432) 563-1000, ext. 2231 or (432) 638-3846 for more information.  

For more information on the P-51C Mustang and the Red Tail Project go to www.cafsmw.org or www.redtail.org