- Date
- May 5, 1985, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Lemoore, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N144KMNorth American AT6A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850505077729A
- Case key
- 24506
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After dropping a parachutist to open an air show the plt's takeoff was delayed by a blown tire on a landing airplane and difficulties with filling his smoke oil tank. After completing about two thirds of his aerobatic routine the plt recovered from a reverse cuban eight at a low altitude. The angle of attack increased during the recovery and the airspeed appeared to decrease. The plt began a roll to the left which continued past 180 deg before the nose of the acft dropped sharply. The airplane struck the ground inverted in a nose down attitude at a bank angle less than 90 deg. There was a loud explosion followed by a severe ground fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N144KM
- Reported as
- North American AT6A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 78-6394
- Airframe hours
- 1,825
- Engine
- P&W R1340AN, 550 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kirk R. Mckee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1985
- Airport
- NLC · Lemoore, runway 14L
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,100 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- NLC
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.