North American AT-6 accident near Matawan, New Jersey, July 30, 1993
On July 30, 1993 at about 4:45 pm local time, a North American AT-6, registered N6617X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Matawan, New Jersey (Marlboro 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 WATER COLLECTION IN THE IGNITION HARNESS WHICH RENDERED THE LOWER CYLINDER SPARK PLUGS INOPERATIVE RESULTING IN PARTIAL POWER LOSS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1993 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Matawan, New Jersey · Marlboro Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6 · all AT-6s on the register
- Registration
- N6617X · registry record · serial 7718-59
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARDS THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED AND THE TAILWIND, HE ELECTED TO LAND PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY ON THE GRASS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO STOP PRIOR TO IMPACTING TREES LOCATED AT THE END OF THE GRASS SO HE GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND DAMAGING THE SPAR AND LANDING GEAR. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE FRONT AND REAR IGNITION HARNESSES RENDERING THE NUMBER 4, 5, 6, AND 7 CYLINDER SPARK PLUGS INOPERATIVE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,210 hours in all; 119 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 5,154 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,625 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 1993; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340 AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bi-Plane Adventure Tours INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 2N8 at 4:44 pm
- Destination: N51 Solberg NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from ACY, 1 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.