North American AT-6D accident near Albemarle, North Carolina, October 2, 1989
On October 2, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a North American AT-6D, registered N350HT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albemarle, North Carolina (Stanly CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albemarle, North Carolina · Stanly CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6D · all AT-6Ds on the register
- Registration
- N350HT · registry record · serial 43756
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A PRACTICE LANDING THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. A CORRECTION WAS APPLIED BUT HE OVER CORRECTED AND THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. WHEN HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD LEAVE THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HARD SURFACE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE HEADING AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AWAY FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. A PINE TREE WAS HIT WITH THE LEFT WING TIP, THE AIRPLANE STALLED, AND HIT THE GROUND. THE WING CENTER SECTION BROKE AWAY FROM THE AIRPLANE AT IMPACT.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,150 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 7,107 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,886 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 4,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from HKY, 50 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.