North American T-6 G accident near Albany, Georgia, March 9, 1990
On March 9, 1990 at about 6:20 pm local time, a North American T-6 G, registered N96143, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albany, Georgia (Southwest Ga Reg. 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
A LOCKED BRAKE WHICH PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE BRAKE MATERIAL EXPANDED AFTER BECOMING WATER SOAKED WHILE TAXIING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 1990 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Albany, Georgia · Southwest Ga Reg.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T-6 G · all T-6 Gs on the register
- Registration
- N96143 · registry record · serial 49-49250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING A FULL STOP LANDING, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHEN THE LEFT BRAKE ASSEMBLY LOCKED AT TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED EXPERIENCING A LOCKED LEFT BRAKE WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM REGAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PILOT CONTENDED AFTER SOME RESEARCH THAT THE POOL OF WATER WHICH HE TAXIIED THROUGH WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF FROM GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI CAUSED THE BRAKE MATERIAL TO EXPAND ABOUT .090 INCHES. NORMAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE DRUM AND THE BRAKE MATERIAL IS .010 INCHES. THIS EXPANSION CAUSED THE LEFT BRAKE TO LOCK, PREVENTING THE WHEEL FROM ROLLING FREELY.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,707 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 11,650 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 1989; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,625 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R 1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GWO Greenwood MS at 5:10 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 5,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 165° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:20 pm from ABY
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.