North American AT6 N757LF

Summary

On 18 May 2016 at about 19:20 local time, a North American AT6 registered N757LF was involved in an accident near Mason, Michigan, United States. One person was 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.

Date

18 May 2016 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Mason, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Mason Jewett Field (TEW)

Coordinates

42.5700, -84.4200

Aircraft

North American AT6

Registration

N757LF

Category

Airplane

Year built

1943

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marshall → Mason

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16TA194

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll on runway 10, the airplane encountered a wind shift and gust. He stated that he added aileron flight control input to "counteract the wind shift" but that the airplane "veered/looped" to the left, exited the runway, and continued into a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing structure. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 14 minutes after the accident, wind was from 00° at 5 knots, gusting to 14 knots. Given the evidence, the pilot likely lost directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.