North American SNJ-4 (AT-6) accident near Mack, Colorado, August 28, 1999
On August 28, 1999 at about 5:30 pm local time, a North American SNJ-4 (AT-6), registered N7011C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mack, Colorado (Mack Mesa airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot misjudging his distance and altitude from the runway. A factor was the tall crops.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 1999 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mack, Colorado · Mack Mesa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ-4 (AT-6) SNJ-4 (AT- · all SNJ-4 (AT-6)s on the register
- Registration
- N7011C · registry record · serial 88-13805
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had landed at this airport 'at least a dozen times' in the past 15 years, and was aware of 'a low crop at the approach end of [runway] 25.' He said he had this same picture in his mind as he made his approach. When he was approximately 200 to 300 feet from the runway, he realized he was too low (the corn stalks were 8 to 10 feet tall). He applied power and up elevator, but the airplane contacted the corn stalks, settled to the ground, rolled a short distance, then nosed over.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 675 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,821 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 1999; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 0CO5
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from GJT, 23 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.