North American AT-6D N319DR

Summary

On 21 April 1995 at about 21:00 local time, a North American AT-6D registered N319DR, operated by Morrison, Donald C., was involved in an accident near Sebastian, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 April 1995 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sebastian, Florida, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

North American AT-6D

Registration

N319DR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Morrison, Donald C.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waycross → Vero Beach

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA95FA114

2 people died.

The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing following loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight was observed flying southbound over the ocean at about 300 feet and 200 yards from shore. The aircraft's engine was heard to sputter and lose power. The aircraft was observed to make a right 90-degree turn toward the beach. Upon reaching the beach the aircraft started a left turn and then entered a nose down descent from which it crashed on the beach. Postcrash examination of the engine showed the No. 5 cylinder master rod and the connecting rods from the Nos. 1, 4, and 6 cylinders had failed. The engine showed no evidence of oil starvation or excessive heating. The cause of the connecting rod failures was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.