# Accident 19900504022939A: Naval N3N3, Madera, CA, May 4, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 1990, 19:00 local time
- Place: Madera, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RPQG
- Location: 36.9093° N, 120.1892° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9093&lon=-120.1892&mi=10
- Aircraft: N45184, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45184) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 (registry code 6120202, https://openairdocs.org/model/naval-aircraft-factory-n3n-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series (registry code 52008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NAVAL N3N3
- Reported engine: PWA R985AN1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX90DVA03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90DVA03) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900504022939A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

HOPPER CAME OPEN SLIPPING TO FIND FLAGMAN. DUMPED LOAD BUT SULPHUR DUST BLINDED PILOT AND HE FLEW INTO GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX90DVA03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90DVA03), May 5, 1990: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 (N45184), Madera, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY DESCENDING INTO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INFLIGHT OPENING OF THE HOPPER LID WHICH PARTIALLY OBSCURED THE PILOT'S VISION.

## Other reports on N45184 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19740809025889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740809025889A), Aug 9, 1974: Naval N3N3 (N45184), Queen Creek, AZ, Substantial damage. Plt failed to see low wires due sun.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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