# NTSB NYC90LA142: North American AT-6, N44ZZ, Buffalo, NY, July 1, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 1, 1990, 14:12 local (18:12 UTC)
- Place: Buffalo, NY
- Location: 42.8864° N, 78.8784° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Buffalo, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8864&lon=-78.8784&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36673
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36673/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA142

## Probable cause

LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT DUE TO PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOTS USE OF AN OVER THE COUNTER ANTIHISTAMINE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - performed, pilot in command
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS IN AN AIRSHOW. THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING A ROLL WHEN AFTER 270 DEGREES OF ROLL, THE RATE DECREASED CONSIDERABLY. THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER IN A 40 DEGREE NOSE DOWN, 45 DEGREES RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A PACKAGE OF 'CALMEX' IN HIS CLOTHING. THIS IS AN OVER THE COUNTER ANTIHISTAMINE. IN ADDITION, THE DRUG DIPHENHYDRAMINE WAS FOUND IN HIS BLOOD, LIVER, AND STOMACH. ACCORDING TO THE FAA EASTERN REGION FLIGHT SURGEON, THE DRUG COULD CAUSE SLOWED REACTION TIMES AND DROSSINESS, AND COULD AFFECT THE PILOT'S PERCEPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44ZZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44ZZ-1990-11-14), registration cancelled 1990-11-14, S/N 662647 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6
- Registry model: [North American AT-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6) (registry code 6400402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 66-2647
- Airframe hours: 2800
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Gifford T. Foyle
- Registered owner: Hanover Aero Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special)
- Departed: BUF, BUFFALO, NY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900701022999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900701022999A), Jul 1, 1990: Namer AT6, Buffalo, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Entered aileron roll to left failed to recover, crashed into niagra river during airshow.

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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