North American AT-6D accident near Muskegon, Michigan, August 2, 1983
On August 2, 1983, a North American AT-6D, registered N29938, was destroyed in an accident near Muskegon, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1983
- Place
- Muskegon, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6D · all AT-6Ds on the register
- Registration
- N29938 · no longer on the register · serial 49-3215
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER PERFORMING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AT LOW ALTITUDE. WITNESSES NEAR THE SCENE SAID THE ACFT WAS FLYING LOW; MOST HEARD THE ENGINE RUNNING.SOME SAID THAT AT THE TOP OF A LOOP THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT STOPPED. ON THE DESCENT FOLLOWING THE LOOP THE ACFT MADE ABOUT 2 ROLLS TO THE RIGHT AND LEVELED OFF. THEN A CRASH WASHEARD. A SINGLE WITNESS SAW THE ACFT ABOUT 50 FT ABOVE THE TREES. HE HEARD THE ENGINE ROAR AND SAW THE ACFT BANK ABOUT 45 DEGREES TO THE LEFT THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TREES. HE SAID THE ACFT HAD 'GOOD SPEED.' NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE BACK SEAT ADULT PASSENGER SAID THE ACFT PERFORMED WELL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 422 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 377 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,136 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Destination: 6D6 Greenville MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:41 am from MKG, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.