# NTSB LAX96LA037: North American AT-6D, N1049A, Richvale, CA, November 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 1995, 09:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Richvale, CA - Coordinates: 39.480186, -121.839103 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4802&lon=-121.8391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29332 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29332/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA037 ## Probable cause the attempt by the pilot to execute an aerobatic maneuver with inadequate altitude to effect recovery before impacting terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Abrupt maneuver, maneuvering - aerobatics - attempted, pilot in command - altitude - low - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE NORTH, DID A PULL-UP COURSE REVERSAL AND THEN FLEW SOUTHBOUND OVER THE RUNWAY. AT THE SOUTH END OF THE RUNWAY HE MADE A RIGHT-HAND CLIMBING TURN TO A NORTHERLY HEADING AND COMMENCED AN AILERON ROLL. DURING THE ROLL THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. IT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A UPRIGHT, WINGS LEVEL, NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE AND BURNED ON IMPACT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 1995, at 0910 hours Pacific standard time, a North American AT-6D, N1049A, impacted terrain while maneuvering at low altitude at a private airstrip, 1 mile west of Richvale, California. The aircraft was destroyed and the commercial pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft had been loaned to the pilot for the local area personal flight by the owner, Av-Ag Inc., of Richvale. The flight departed from the Av-Ag Inc. private airport at 0905. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The owner/operator of the aircraft and a mechanic witnessed the accident. They reported that the pilot departed on runway 34, then did a pull-up course reversal and flew southbound over the runway. At the south end of the runway the pilot did a right-hand climbing turn to a northerly heading and commenced an aileron roll. During the roll the nose of the aircraft dropped and the aircraft descended with insufficient altitude to recover. It impacted the ground in a upright, wings level, nose-low attitude and burned on impact. The engine sounded normal to the witnesses throughout the flight. The owner/operator told NTSB investigators that the pilot had worked as a contract ag-pilot for 25 years and had accumulated over 23,000 hours flying time. Prior to becoming an ag-pilot he was a demonstration aerobatic pilot in the Swedish Air Force flying the AT-6 aircraft. Earlier in the morning of the accident the pilot had seeded a field for the operator and had then asked to fly the AT-6. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1049A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1049A-1997-02-19), registration cancelled 1997-02-19, S/N 4134378 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6D - Registry model: [North American Medore T-6D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-medore-t-6d) (registry code 6400435) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 41-34378 - Airframe hours: 1294 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Av-Ag Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 13, 1994, 20 hours before - Airport: Richvale, runway 34, 2,400 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 23,600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MYV, 324 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 19951103035899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951103035899A), Nov 3, 1995: Namer AT6D, Richvale, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aileron roll at low altitude. Descended without altitude to recover. Impacted upright and burned. 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. --- 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.