Grumman TBM-3 N337VT

Summary

On 6 May 2018 at about 20:38 local time, a Grumman TBM-3 registered N337VT was involved in an accident near Fort Apache, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 May 2018 at 20:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Apache, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.7701, -109.9802

Aircraft

Grumman TBM-3

Registration

N337VT

Category

Airplane

Year built

1945

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Maricopa → Albuquerque

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC18LA034

2 people were seriously injured.

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were conducting a cross-country flight in the pilot's newly-purchased and refurbished World War II-era airplane when the engine experienced vibrations, smoke, an oil leak, and a partial loss of power. The airplane was over remote, rugged, tree-covered terrain with no emergency landing areas, and the occupants, who were wearing emergency parachutes, egressed about 1,500 ft above ground level. Both the pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries during their landings under parachute. Radar data indicated that the airplane continued a steady descent into terrain. The wreckage was never located despite numerous searches; therefore, the engine could not be examined and the reason for the loss of engine power or smoke and vibrations could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.