North American AT-6 N6617X
30 July 1993 · Matawan, New Jersey, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 30 July 1993 at about 16:45 local time, a North American AT-6 registered N6617X, operated by Bi-Plane Adventure Tours Inc., was involved in an accident near Matawan, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Matawan, New Jersey, United States
- Nearest airport
- Marlboro Airport (2N8)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6
- Registration
- N6617X
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Bi-Plane Adventure Tours Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Solberg
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO93LA142
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE WATER COLLECTION IN THE IGNITION HARNESS WHICH RENDERED THE LOWER CYLINDER SPARK PLUGS INOPERATIVE RESULTING IN PARTIAL POWER LOSS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARDS THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED AND THE TAILWIND, HE ELECTED TO LAND PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY ON THE GRASS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO STOP PRIOR TO IMPACTING TREES LOCATED AT THE END OF THE GRASS SO HE GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND DAMAGING THE SPAR AND LANDING GEAR. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE FRONT AND REAR IGNITION HARNESSES RENDERING THE NUMBER 4, 5, 6, AND 7 CYLINDER SPARK PLUGS INOPERATIVE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other North American AT-6 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1990 | North American AT-6 | Buffalo, New York, United States | Gifford T. Foyle | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Feb 1989 | North American AT-6 | Compton, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 May 2001 | North American AT-6 D | Prescott, Arizona, United States | William S. Modes | No injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1985 | North American AT-6 | Port Isabel, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 1983 | North American AT-6 | Norman, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Aug 2003 | North American AT-6 | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May 1993 | American General AG5B | Princeton, New Jersey, United States | Raritan Valley Flying School | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 May 1993 | Hockenbury BOWERS FLY BABY | Peapack, New Jersey, United States | Peter Hockenbury | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 May 1993 | Cessna 172P | Pittstown, New Jersey, United States | Royal Karina Air Service Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1993 | Beatty GLASAIR SH-2 | Cape May, New Jersey, United States | Eugene J. Beatty | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-23-250 | Elmwood Park, New Jersey, United States | Alan B. Fleischman | Fatal | 6 |
| 15 Mar 1993 | Boeing 737-130 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Continental Airlines | No injuries | - |