Nanchang China CJ-6 accident near Justin, Texas, January 3, 2009
On January 3, 2009 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Nanchang China CJ-6, registered N99YK, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Justin, Texas (Propwash Airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering on approach, which resulted in an accelerated stall and subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2009 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Justin, Texas · Propwash Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang China CJ-6 · all CJ-6s on the register
- Registration
- N99YK · no longer on the register · serial 1332010
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After leading a three-ship formation to the destination airport, and while in pattern to land, the lead airplane was observed to be in a very steep right turn that immediately turned to a near vertical nose-down descent. The airplane then impacted terrain in a near vertical nose-down attitude. A postimpact fire consumed portions of the cockpit, fuselage, right aileron, left elevator, rudder, and vertical fin. Prevailing winds were from 40 degrees from runway heading at 10 knots gusting to 19 knots. The investigation could not determine if the wind conditions contributed to the pilot's decision to use a steeper-than-normal bank angle. federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circulatory 61-67C informs pilots that accelerated stall can occur at higher-than-normal airspeed if there are abrupt and/or excessive control inputs such as during steep turns. An examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any preimpact anomalies.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Vendeneyev M14P (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 16X Justin TX
- Destination: 16X Justin TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.63 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KAFW, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.