- Date
- June 17, 1989, 09:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place
- Earle, AR
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3931SNorth American AT-6D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 9, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890617015889A
- Case key
- 34688
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 improper planning/decision and over confidence in his flying ability, which resulted in a loss of control, while maneuvering at low altitude. The pilot's inadequate altitude and airpeed were considered to be contributing factors.
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
The plt was practicing his routine for an air show that was to occur later the same day. One witness rprtd the acft apchd the arpt from the west 'low & slow' as if to land, then it was maneuvered to an inverted attitude over rwy 8 at 50 to 100 ft AGL. After remaining inverted for a short time, the acft was rolled back to an upright attitude. However, as the acft rolled upright, it angled to the right side of the rwy, descended & crashed on a hdg of 140 deg. The witness said the acft seemed to 'slip' sideway as it rolled to the upright psn before crashing. After impact, a fire erupted & the acft was destroyed. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the acft was found. The plt was a former astronaut that was employed by NASA. He had visited with a prominant AT-6 plt & had expressed special interest in the AT-6 plt's routine involving inverted flt. The AT-6 plt had provided info, but adzd the astronaut against performing rolls in the AT-6 at low alt.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3931S
- Reported as
- North American AT-6D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 51811
- Airframe hours
- 7,611
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN-1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Greg Mcneely
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 6, 1988 · 101 hours before
- Airport
- M63 · Mcneely, runway 8, 2,200 × 30 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 9,500 total · 154 in this make and model · 42 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MEM, 28 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.