# NTSB LAX87LA295: North American T-6G, N8335H, Butte City, CA, August 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1987, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Butte City, CA
- Coordinates: 39.460273, -121.92926 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4603&lon=-121.9293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25660
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA295
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25660/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA295

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - soft
  - terrain condition - high vegetation

## Analysis

DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT, A WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT MAKING SHALLOW RIGHT TURNS AT APRX 100 FT AGL. THE ACFT SUDDENLY NOSED DOWN AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. NEITHER THE PLT NOR THE PASSENGER REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED CONSIDERABLE IMPACT DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE COMPONENTS THAT WERE NOT DAMAGED WERE INSPECTED AND TESTED WITH NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS NOTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8335H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8335H), registered now, S/N 49-3210, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN T-6G
- Registry model: [North American T-6G](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-6g) (registry code 6400432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 49-3210-A
- Airframe hours: 4777
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald E. Murphy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 1987, 17 hours before
- Departed: 097, RICHVALE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 10,250 total, 65 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 288 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CIC, 18 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870806045359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870806045359A), Aug 6, 1987: Namer T6G, Butte City, CA, Destroyed. Observed flying low over pilots property. Stalled and dove to ground. Pilot and passenger have no memory of event.

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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