North American T-6G accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 9, 2023
On June 9, 2023 at about 6:03 pm local time, a 1949 North American T-6G, registered N16JV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Colorado Springs, Colorado (City of Colorado Springs Muni 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 during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2023 · about 6:03 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Colorado Springs, Colorado · City of Colorado Springs Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T-6G, built 1949 · all T-6Gs on the register
- Registration
- N16JV · registry record · serial 49-3155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing, the tailwheel equipped airplane drifted left of the runway centerline. The pilot applied right rudder and began transitioning the tail down when the airplane began a ground loop to the right. The airplane exited the runway, which resulted in separation of the left main landing gear and substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot noted that there were thunderstorms in the vicinity of the airport at the time of the accident. He added that a better understanding of wind shear may have assisted in preventing the loss of control.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 346 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 158 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,157 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 461 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COS Colorado Springs CO at 4:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 11,022 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:42 pm from KCOS, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCOS 091842Z VRB05KT 10SM VCTS SCT100CB BKN200 BKN250 24/06 A3010 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N OCNL LTGICCG VC W TS VC W MOV NE T02390061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Left view of airplane (Photo
Photo 2 – Substantially damaged left wing and aileron (Photo
Photo 3 -Substantially damaged left aileron (PhotoThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 31, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N16JV on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- North American T-6 Texan 109 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- North American 1,297 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 64 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- City Of Colorado Springs Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,484 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN23LA235.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.