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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 3, 1995 · North American AT-6D · N1049A

Richvale, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 3, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Richvale, CA
Aircraft
North American AT-6D
Tail Number
N1049A
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX96LA037

THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE NORTH, DID A PULL-UP COURSE REVERSAL AND THEN FLEW SOUTHBOUND OVER THE RUNWAY. AT THE SOUTH END OF THE RUNWAY HE MADE A RIGHT-HAND CLIMBING TURN TO A NORTHERLY HEADING AND COMMENCED AN AILERON ROLL. DURING THE ROLL THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. IT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A UPRIGHT, WINGS LEVEL, NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE AND BURNED ON IMPACT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause

the attempt by the pilot to execute an aerobatic maneuver with inadequate altitude to effect recovery before impacting terrain.

Full Narrative

On November 3, 1995, at 0910 hours Pacific standard time, a North American AT-6D, N1049A, impacted terrain while maneuvering at low altitude at a private airstrip, 1 mile west of Richvale, California. The aircraft was destroyed and the commercial pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft had been loaned to the pilot for the local area personal flight by the owner, Av-Ag Inc., of Richvale. The flight departed from the Av-Ag Inc. private airport at 0905. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The owner/operator of the aircraft and a mechanic witnessed the accident. They reported that the pilot departed on runway 34, then did a pull-up course reversal and flew southbound over the runway. At the south end of the runway the pilot did a right-hand climbing turn to a northerly heading and commenced an aileron roll. During the roll the nose of the aircraft dropped and the aircraft descended with insufficient altitude to recover. It impacted the ground in a upright, wings level, nose-low attitude and burned on impact. The engine sounded normal to the witnesses throughout the flight. The owner/operator told NTSB investigators that the pilot had worked as a contract ag-pilot for 25 years and had accumulated over 23,000 hours flying time. Prior to becoming an ag-pilot he was a demonstration aerobatic pilot in the Swedish Air Force flying the AT-6 aircraft. Earlier in the morning of the accident the pilot had seeded a field for the operator and had then asked to fly the AT-6.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:10 PST
Nearest AirportRICHVALE (0nm)
Runway34
Runway Length2400 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftNorth American AT-6D
Tail NumberN1049A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-1340-AN1 · Reciprocating · 600
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 61 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 7 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data