- Date
- April 17, 1999, 19:00 local (Apr 18, 1999, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Hollister, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N6979CNorth American AT-6D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report November 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990417003819A
- Case key
- 46142
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition, and his failure to maintain directional control during landing.
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
During landing flare on runway 24 the pilot encountered a wind gust and touched down hard on the runway. Thereafter, he lost control and ground looped. During the mishap the left wing contacted the runway and broke. No mechanical malfunctions were reportedly experienced. The pilot reported the wind was from 260 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 20 knots.
Factual narrative
On April 17, 1999, at 1900 hours Pacific daylight time, a North American AT-6D, N6979C, registered to California Warbirds, Inc., Cupertino, California, ground looped during landing rollout on runway 24 at the uncontrolled Hollister Municipal Airport, Hollister, California. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed for the local area personal flight performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot nor the passenger was injured. The flight originated from Hollister about 1830.
On April 21, 1999, the pilot reported the accident to the National Transportation Safety Board. The pilot stated that he landed hard on the runway, lost control, and ground looped. The left wing contacted the runway and broke. The pilot subsequently indicated that during his landing flare a wind gust "caught" his right wing. The pilot also indicated that no malfunctions were experienced with the airplane during the flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6979C
- Reported as
- North American AT-6D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 42-85408
- Airframe hours
- 6,724
- Engine
- P&W R1340 AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- California Warbirds Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 19, 1998 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- 3O7 · CA
- Destination
- 3O7
- Airport
- 3O7 · Hollister, runway 24, 3,150 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,300 total · 400 in this make and model · 2,260 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 260° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.