# Accident 19980620014419A: Naval N3N3, Skull Valley, AZ, June 20, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 20, 1998, 10:15 local time
- Place: Skull Valley, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5053° N, 112.6855° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Skull Valley, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5053&lon=-112.6855&mi=10
- Aircraft: N45053, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45053) (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 R985*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 15,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA207) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980620014419A

## Narrative

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

DESTROYED WHILE MANEUVERING. (.4) THE AIRCRAFT HAD RECENTLY BEEN RETURNED TO SERVICE AFTER A COMPLETE RESTORATION. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER/PILOT THE AIRPLANE HAD ACCUMULATED 19 FLIGHT HOURS SINCE THE RESTORATION. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT AND THE ENGINE WERE OPERATING NORMALLY AND WERE NOT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.                                                        (-23) ON JUNE 20, 1998 ABOUT 1095 HRS, MST, A/C DESTROYED WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR SKULL VALLEY, AZ. BOTH PILOT & PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED. NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED, ORIGINATING FROM PRESCOTT, AZ.

## 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 LAX98LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA207), Jun 20, 1998: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 (N45053), Skull Valley, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft while maneuvering at a low altitude.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.