Vultee BT-13 accident near Axis, Alabama, October 15, 1989
On October 15, 1989 at about 8:19 pm local time, a Vultee BT-13, registered N56381, was destroyed in an accident near Axis, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE AIRCRAFT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A STALL, WHEN THE PILOT/PASSENGER HAD A HEART ATTACK. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: LACK OF ALTITUDE FOR THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO RECOVER FROM THE STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1989 · about 8:19 pm local time
- Place
- Axis, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vultee BT-13
- Registration
- N56381 · no longer on the register · serial 3432
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE & A PILOT RATED FRIEND WERE FLYING LAZY 8 MANEUVERS AT LOW ALTITUDE IN THE NEWLY PURCHASED WWII TRAINER. THE OWNER HAD FLOWN THE AIRPLANE WHILE SERVING IN THE MILITARY & WAS A CURRENT CIVILIAN INSTRUCTOR PILOT. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A DESCENT, PITCHED UP SHARPLY, THEN ENTERED A 'SPIRAL' THAT CONTINUED UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE ENGINE WAS REPORTED TO BE OPERATING AT HIGH POWER, WHEN THE AIRPLANE CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS FOUND. A POST MORTEM EXAM OF THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT (THE PILOT'S FRIEND) REVEALED THAT HE WAS FATALLY INJURED BY BLUNT FORCE INJURIES. HOWEVER, THE EXAM ALSO REVEALED THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT HAD 80% (FOCAL) NARROWING OF THE PROXIMAL LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING CORONARY ARTERY, WITH ACUTE THROMBOSIS (AGONAL).
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,990 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:52 pm from MOB, 20 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.
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.