P-51 Pilot Makes Safe Emergency Landing

Veteran warbird pilot Bob Harrison walked away unharmed after executing a textbook emergency landing in his P-51D Mustang during a demonstration flight at the Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Houston show last weekend.

Harrison, 68, a former Air Force fighter pilot with over 15,000 hours of flight time, was performing a heritage flight demonstration when his aircraft’s legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engine began losing power at approximately 3,000 feet above ground level.

What Happened in the Cockpit

“I was coming out of a climbing turn when I noticed the manifold pressure dropping and the engine starting to run rough,” Harrison recounted in an interview. “At that altitude, you have maybe 30 seconds to make decisions that determine whether you and a $3 million piece of history make it back in one piece.”

Harrison immediately broke off from the demonstration, radioed the tower declaring an emergency, and began setting up for a straight-in approach to Runway 27. Spectators watched as white smoke briefly trailed from the aircraft before Harrison feathered the propeller and established a glide.

“Training kicked in,” Harrison said. “You practice these scenarios hundreds of times in your head and in the cockpit. When it happens for real, muscle memory takes over. But I’d be lying if I said my heart wasn’t pounding.”

The Landing Everyone Held Their Breath For

With the propeller windmilling and no restart possible, Harrison guided the Mustang to a dead-stick landing that veterans at the show called “beautiful.” The aircraft touched down smoothly on the main gear, rolled to a stop on the taxiway, and was immediately surrounded by fire and rescue crews who had been scrambled as a precaution.

“Bob made it look easy, but what he did requires incredible skill,” said CAF Wing Leader Tom Martinez, who witnessed the landing from the flight line. “A P-51 without power glides like a brick with wings. You get one chance.”

Investigation Points to Fuel System

Preliminary inspection by the aircraft’s maintenance team suggests a fuel system malfunction caused the power loss. The Mustang’s fuel system, designed in the 1940s, uses a series of pumps and check valves that can be susceptible to vapor lock in certain conditions, though the exact cause is still under investigation.

“We’re going through the entire fuel system component by component,” said chief mechanic Ray Gonzalez. “These warbirds require constant vigilance. Every flight is a testament to the maintenance teams who keep them airworthy.”

The Aircraft’s History

The P-51D involved in the incident, serial number 44-73420, was manufactured in 1944 and served with the 352nd Fighter Group in England during World War II. Restored in 2008, it has been a fixture at airshows across the country for nearly two decades.

The aircraft, valued at over $3 million in today’s warbird market, sustained no damage during the emergency landing—a testament to Harrison’s skill and the robust design of North American Aviation’s most famous fighter.

Back in the Air Soon

Harrison expects to return to the demonstration circuit within two to three weeks, pending completion of the fuel system overhaul and a series of test flights.

“The old girl and I have a few more shows to do together,” Harrison said with a grin. “This was just a reminder that flying 80-year-old airplanes requires respect, preparation, and maybe a little luck. We had all three that day.”

The incident underscores both the inherent risks of flying vintage warbirds and the critical importance of pilot training and experience. In an era when fewer than 150 P-51 Mustangs remain airworthy worldwide, every safe landing is a victory for aviation preservation.