North American AT6 N75AG

Summary

On 17 March 2010 at about 18:32 local time, a North American AT6 registered N75AG, operated by Alfred F Goss, was involved in an accident near Bakersfield, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 March 2010 at 18:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Bakersfield, California, United States

Nearest airport

Shafter-Minter Field (MIT)

Coordinates

35.3839, -119.3314

Aircraft

North American AT6

Registration

N75AG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Alfred F Goss

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shafter → Shafter

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10FA162

2 people died.

The pilots did not maintain clearance from terrain for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The two pilots, one of whom owned the airplane, departed for a personal flight in the airplane, which was equipped with dual flight controls. A witness, who was an acquaintance of the pilot/owner, reported observing the airplane circle his farm, followed by a low pass over the farm at an estimated altitude of 150 to 200 feet above the ground. The witness then observed the airplane depart the area in a climb to the north. A second witness, who was located about 0.5 miles south of the accident site, reported observing the airplane circle overhead, followed by a constant, shallow rate of descent before it impacted terrain in a slightly nose down attitude. The second witness added that, at no time during the descent, did he observe the airplane’s attitude change, and he did not observe the airplane make any type of an evasive maneuver to avoid the impact with terrain. No determination could be made concerning which pilot was manipulating the controls at the time of the accident. Autopsies and toxicological testing of both pilots revealed no evidence of impairment or incapacitation. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The investigation was unable to determine why the pilots failed to avert the collision with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.