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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 3, 1983 · North American AT-6C · N5286N

Westfield, MA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 3, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Westfield, MA
Aircraft
North American AT-6C
Tail Number
N5286N
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC83FA130

THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED PLT WAS ON A LOW LEVEL, AEROBATIC WAIVER, COMPETENCY CHECK FLT. HE WAS SCHEDULED TO DEMONSTRATE A LOOP, AN AILERON ROLL, A SPLIT-S, AN IMMELMANN, A BARREL ROLL & A 4-POINT HESITATION ROLL. THE MINIMUM ALT FOR THESE MANEUVERS WAS TO BE 500 FT AGL. FOR THE MOST PART, WITNESSES AGREED THE 1ST 5 MANEUVERS WERE PERFORMED WELL, WITH MINOR EXCEPTIONS. HOWEVER, DURING THE FINAL MANEUVER, A 4-POINT ROLL TO THE LEFT, THE ACFT CRASHED. MOST OF THE WITNESSES BELIEVED THE PLT STARTED THE MANEUVER BELOW 500 FT AGL. REPORTEDLY, AT THE 1ST POINT OF THE ROLL, THE NOSE HAD BEGUN TO DROP. AT THE 2ND POINT (INVERTED), THE NOSE HAD DROPPED THRU THE HORIZON TO PERHAPS 10 DEG LOW. ONE EXPERIENCED PLT REPORTED THE ACFT DISHED OUT FROM ABOUT THE 3RD POINT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE IMPACTED IN A SOMEWHAT NOSE LOW, RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT UP ELEVATOR & RIGHT RUDDER WERE APPLIED JUST BEFORE IMPACT. THE PLT HAD APRX 500 HRS SINGLE ENGINE EXPERIENCE & RECENT PRACTICE SESSIONS IN AEROBATIC FLT.

Full Narrative

THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED PLT WAS ON A LOW LEVEL, AEROBATIC WAIVER, COMPETENCY CHECK FLT. HE WAS SCHEDULED TO DEMONSTRATE A LOOP, AN AILERON ROLL, A SPLIT-S, AN IMMELMANN, A BARREL ROLL & A 4-POINT HESITATION ROLL. THE MINIMUM ALT FOR THESE MANEUVERS WAS TO BE 500 FT AGL. FOR THE MOST PART, WITNESSES AGREED THE 1ST 5 MANEUVERS WERE PERFORMED WELL, WITH MINOR EXCEPTIONS. HOWEVER, DURING THE FINAL MANEUVER, A 4-POINT ROLL TO THE LEFT, THE ACFT CRASHED. MOST OF THE WITNESSES BELIEVED THE PLT STARTED THE MANEUVER BELOW 500 FT AGL. REPORTEDLY, AT THE 1ST POINT OF THE ROLL, THE NOSE HAD BEGUN TO DROP. AT THE 2ND POINT (INVERTED), THE NOSE HAD DROPPED THRU THE HORIZON TO PERHAPS 10 DEG LOW. ONE EXPERIENCED PLT REPORTED THE ACFT DISHED OUT FROM ABOUT THE 3RD POINT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE IMPACTED IN A SOMEWHAT NOSE LOW, RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT UP ELEVATOR & RIGHT RUDDER WERE APPLIED JUST BEFORE IMPACT. THE PLT HAD APRX 500 HRS SINGLE ENGINE EXPERIENCE & RECENT PRACTICE SESSIONS IN AEROBATIC FLT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:58 EDT
Nearest AirportBarnes Municipal (0nm N)
Runway2
Runway Length9000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftNorth American AT-6C
Tail NumberN5286N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-1340-AN-1 · Reciprocating · 550
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 4 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:59
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data