North American AT6 accident near Bakersfield, CA
On March 17, 2010, a North American AT6 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bakersfield, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 17, 2010
- Place
- Bakersfield, CA
- Aircraft
- North American AT6 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.384°N, 119.331°W
- NTSB ID
- 20100317X82631
Official records · WPR10FA162
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On March 17, 2010, about 1132 Pacific daylight time, a North American AT-6F airplane, N75AG, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude near Bakersfield, California. The airline transport pilot who occupied the front pilot seat position and the commercial pilot who occupied the rear pilot seat position were killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan had been filed. The flight departed the Shafter-Minter Field (MIT), Shafter, California, about 1110. A witness, who was an acquaintance of the rear-seated pilot/owner and was located about one mile southeast of the accident site, reported that he observed the airplane circling his farm, followed by a low pass at an altitude estimated to be between 150 to 200 feet above the ground (agl). The witness further reported that he observed the airplane depart the area in a climb to the north. A second witness, who was located about one-half mile south of the accident site, reported that he observed the airplane circling overhead, followed by a constant, shallow rate of descent before it impacted terrain in a slightly nose down attitude. The witness stated that the airplane then bounced once before impacting the terrain a second time, followed by a cloud of dust and billowing smoke. The witness added that at no time during the gradual descent until the time of impact did he observe the airplane’s pitch attitude change, that its attitude was steady until the time of
Probable cause
The pilots did not maintain clearance from terrain for undetermined reasons.
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Browse: California · North American aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
