# NTSB LAX00LA254: North American AT-6F, N7475C, Grass Valley, CA, July 7, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 7, 2000, 15:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place: Grass Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 39.180164, -120.980407 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1802&lon=-120.9804&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49654
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49654/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA254

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in a collision with terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

The pilot observed no wind and attempted a three-point landing.  The airplane bounced slightly and, as he sat the airplane back down on the main gear, the airplane swerved to the right.  He added some power and applied rudder and brake, but observed no correction.  He applied full power to attempt a go-around, but departed the right side of the runway at a 25-degree angle.  Approximately 200 feet from the runway the left main gear contacted terrain, swinging the airplane into a hillside.

## Factual narrative

On July 7, 2000, at 1505 hours Pacific daylight time, a North American AT-6F, N7475C, sustained substantial damage when it departed the left side of the runway and ground looped during the landing roll at Nevada County Air Park, Grass Valley, California.  The airplane was being operated by the owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The commercial pilot was uninjured and the only passenger received minor injuries.  The personal flight departed Monterey, California, about 1400, and was scheduled to terminate at Grass Valley.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported he observed no wind and attempted a three-point landing.  The airplane bounced slightly and, as he sat the airplane back down on the main gear, the airplane swerved to the right.  He added some power and applied rudder and brake, but observed no correction.  He applied full power to attempt a go-around, but departed the right side of the runway at a 25-degree angle.  Approximately 200 feet from the runway the left main gear contacted terrain, swinging the airplane into a hillside.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7475C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7475C), registered now, S/N 44-82027 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: North American AT-6F
- Registry model: [North American AT-6F](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6f) (registry code 6400420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44-82027
- Airframe hours: 525
- Engines: P&W R1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Marvin Quaid
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 13, 2000, 15 hours before
- Departed: MRY, MONTEREY, CA
- Destination: 017, WHITEMAN, CA
- Airport: O17, Navada County Airpark, runway 25, 4,350 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 81; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 7,180 total, 2,050 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 138 °F, dew point 117 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BLU, 15 nm away

## Other investigations on N7475C (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 LAX81FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA105), Jul 18, 1981: N American AT-6 (N7475C), California Vly, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal

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.

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