North American AT-6F N3173L

Summary

On 28 July 1995 at about 23:40 local time, a North American AT-6F registered N3173L was involved in an accident near Long Beach, California, 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.

Date

28 July 1995 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Long Beach, California, United States

Nearest airport

Daugherty Field (LGB)

Coordinates

33.7902, -118.1206

Aircraft

North American AT-6F

Registration

N3173L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Porterville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA274

Nobody was injured.

the failure of the left main landing gear locking mechanism to fully seat in the 'down' position due to loose attachment bolts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AS THE PILOT ROLLED OUT ON FINAL HE RECOGNIZED A CROSSWIND AND CRABBED INTO THE WIND ANTICIPATING A CROSSWIND LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SLID OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY STRIKING A SIGN ON A CONCRETE BASE. THE PILOT WAS APPLYING RIGHT AILERON AND LEFT RUDDER TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND DURING THE LANDING. THE MECHANICAL DOWN LOCK FOR THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS FOUND BROKEN AND DISPLACED. THE MECHANICAL INDICATOR FOR GEAR POSITION DID NOT SHOW THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TO BE IN THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION. THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE DOWN LOCK WERE NOT PROPERLY SEATED, ALLOWING THE DOWN LOCK TO SHIFT FROM ITS MOUNTED POSITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.