Warbird Went Down In The Gulf Of Mexico Off Fort Walton Beach

The NTSB has issued its preliminary findings in an accident involving an AT-6G which went down July 2nd in the Gulf of Mexico. The accident was witnessed by several people on the beach in Destin, FL, who said the aircraft entered a spin following a steep climb, and spun into the water. The pilot and a passenger were killed in the accident.

NTSB Identification: ERA10FA342
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 02, 2010 in Destin, FL
Aircraft: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6, registration: N92778
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On July 2, 2010, at 1218 central daylight time, a North American AT-6G, N92778, operated by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted the Gulf of Mexico, about 1 mile south of Destin, Florida. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (DTS), Destin, Florida, about 1200. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

Several people were on the Destin/Fort Walton Beach, and witnessed the accident. They reported to an FAA inspector that the airplane had been performing aerobatic maneuvers along the beach. Just prior to the accident, the airplane was flying east along the beach, then turned west with its "smoke on." The airplane began a steep climb, possibly a loop. At the top of the climb, the smoke ceased and the airplane entered a spin. The airplane descended in a spin, until impacting the water.

Review of preliminary radar data provided by the FAA, revealed a target with at discrete transponder code on an easterly ground track at 12:14:23, at an altitude of 1,350 mean sea level. The target descended to 150 feet at 12:17:11, then climbed to 1,150 feet at 12:17:34, and reversed track to the west at 12:17:59, while descending through 650 feet. The target subsequently descended to 350 feet at 12:18:11, before beginning the final climb to 1,350 feet at 12:18:23. Two subsequent radar targets recorded altitudes of 950 feet and 850 feet, at 12:18:35 and 12:18:47, respectively.

The wreckage was located the same day, about 3/4 mile south of the beach, at a depth of 65 feet. Underwater video recording confirmed that all major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site; however, during recovery, the fuselage separated from the center wing section. The engine, cockpit and fuselage were recovered and examined on July 4, 2010. The engine remained attached to the fuselage and the cockpit area was crushed. Elevator, elevator trim, and rudder control cable continuity was confirmed from the cockpit area to broomstraw cable separations at the aft portion of the fuselage. The aileron control tubes had separated about the mid-cockpit area, at the "Y bar." The throttle and mixture controls were found mid-range, and the propeller control was full-forward. The fuel selector was positioned to the left main fuel tank.

File Photo

The propeller remained attached to the engine. One propeller blade exhibited aft curling and chordwise scratches. The other propeller blade exhibited s-bending, leading edge gouges, and chordwise scratches. The top spark plugs were removed from the cylinders, except for the No. 3 top spark plug, which was missing. The spark plugs were light gray with some oil coating noted and their electrodes were intact. The propeller was rotated through 360 degrees. Compression was noted on the cylinders, with water emanating from them. Continuity was confirmed through the engine to the magneto drive shafts, and both magnetos remained attached to their respective drive shaft.

Portions of the wings and empennage were recovered on July 5, 2010. Further examination of the wreckage was planned upon its arrival at the aircraft recovery company's facility.

The pilot, age 57, held a commercial pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on November 3, 2009. Review of the pilot's most recent logbook revealed that he had accumulated 1,923.9 total hours of flight experience. A friend of the pilot estimated that he had accrued approximately 300 to 500 hours of experience in "T6s."

The two-seat tandem, low-wing, retractable-gear tailwheel airplane, serial number 182-486, was manufactured in 1943 and remanufactured in 1951. Its most recent FAA standard airworthiness certificate was issued on April 12, 1979. It was equipped with a Pratt and Whitney R1340, 550-horsepower radial engine and a Hamilton Standard two-blade constant-speed propeller. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on March 26, 2010. At that time, the airplane had accumulated 6,790.1 total hours of operation and the engine had accumulated 232.1 hours of operation since overhaul. The airplane had flown 30.2 Hobbs hours since the annual inspection.

The recorded weather at DTS, located about 5 miles northwest of the accident side, at 1153, was: wind from 070 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 miles; few clouds at 2,800 feet; temperature 29 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 23 degrees C; altimeter 30.06 inches of mercury.

A Garmin "GPSMAP 496" was recovered from the wreckage and retained for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov