North American T 6G accident near Naples, Florida, October 23, 2014
On October 23, 2014 at about 4:35 pm local time, a 1946 North American T 6G, registered N22NA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Naples, Florida (Naples Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power during the initial climb due to fuel starvation for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations of the airframe and engine fuel system components revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2014 · about 4:35 pm local time · cases in 2014
- Place
- Naples, Florida · Naples Municipal · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T 6G G, built 1946 · all T 6Gs on the register
- Registration
- N22NA · registry record · serial 49-3222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the airline transport pilot, during the initial climb for the personal flight, when the airplane was about 150 to 250 ft above the ground, the engine lost all power. He lowered the landing gear, maintained flying airspeed, and then landed the airplane in the grass right of the runway. The airplane subsequently collided with a runway distance remaining sign and came to a stop. The pilot reported that there were 113 gallons of fuel on board the airplane at takeoff, and postaccident examination revealed that there was an adequate supply of fuel in the fuel tanks. However, during examination of the engine fuel system components, no fuel was found in the fuel line from the outlet of the mechanical fuel pump to the fuel flow transducer nor at the carburetor inlet fitting, consistent with fuel starvation. Further examination of the engine and remaining components of the fuel system revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure, and the reason for the fuel interruption to the engine could not be determined.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › (general) › Malfunction other cases naming the engine
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 21,150 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 27, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,602 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 2014; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 SERIES (piston); 1,556 hours total
- Operator: Bill Leff Airshows LLC
The flight
- Departed from: APF Naples FL at 4:35 pm
- Destination: LEE Leesburg FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 05, 6,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from APF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on March 7, 2016. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record – FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Airworthiness Field Notes | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Fuel System Component Field Notes | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Engine Data Monitor - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Engine Data Monitor - Tabular Data | PDF, 90 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Excerpts - P&w Handbook of Operation Anf Flight Instructions | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Excerpts - Engine Logbook | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Evidence Control Forms | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Photos | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N22NA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N22NA 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: P&W R1340 SERIES 1,229 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Naples Municipal · nearest airport
- Leesburg International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 985 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,705 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N22NA 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA15LA030.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.