North American AT-6D accident near Mocksville, North Carolina, October 15, 2005
On October 15, 2005 at about 10:20 pm local time, a North American AT-6D, registered N494S, was destroyed in an accident near Mocksville, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and an in-flight collision with trees and the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2005 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Mocksville, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6D · all AT-6Ds on the register
- Registration
- N494S · no longer on the register · serial 42-44681
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness stated he observed the airplane depart to the north and climb to about 500 feet. The witness observed the airplane make a steep left 90-degree bank back towards the runway, in a slight nose down attitude. The witness then observed the nose and wings of the airplane come back to a level attitude. The witness stated the airplane appeared to be "mushing/dropping" down in a flat slight nose down attitude until it disappeared from view. Two hunters stated they observed the airplane at tree top level circling. The hunters stated the engine sounded like it was shutting down and quit. They then heard a sound like the pilot was attempting to restart the engine. The hunters lost sight of the airplane and heard it collide with the ground, followed by smoke rising above the trees. Examination of the crash site revealed the fuselage forward of the vertical stabilizer was destroyed by fire except for the outer 1/3 of the left and right wing. The right main fuel tank had been ruptured and received fire damage. The left main fuel tank was not ruptured and fire damage was present on the exterior of the fuel tank. The left fuel cap was removed and no fuel was present. The inside of the fuel tank revealed a shinny interior. The fuel selector valve was removed and a functional check revealed no anomalies. The left wing fuel sump was opened and no fuel was present. The left and right fuel selector knobs were located in the wreckage and the fuel selector handle was positioned on the right main fuel tank. Witnesses who were present when the pilot departed stated, the airplane had been topped off with 70.2 gallons of low lead fuel earlier in the day. The pilot had flown 5 flights after the airplane was refueled for 1 hour and 25 minutes before the accident. Review of Pratt and Whitney 1340-AN-1 engine operational data revealed the engine will burn 35 to 40 gallons of fuel per hour at cruise power settings. At maximum takeoff power the engine will burn up to 70 gallons of fuel per hour.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,300 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,261 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Mocksville NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from INT, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N494S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.