North American T-6G accident near Lakeland, Florida, March 29, 2023
On March 29, 2023 at about 1:17 pm local time, a 1951 North American T-6G, registered N791MH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Linder Intl airport). It was an instructional 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control on the ground as a result of left tailwheel steering cable separation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2023 · about 1:17 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland Linder Intl · 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, built 1951 · all T-6Gs on the register
- Registration
- N791MH · registry record · serial 5114791
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he performed a wheel landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. As he lowered the tailwheel, the airplane turned right, and he applied left rudder to continue straight. As soon as he applied the rudder pressure, he “felt something pop” and the airplane continued to turn right, resulting in a ground loop. In the accident sequence, the left main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Post accident examination of the tailwheel steering system noted that the left tailwheel steering cable separated.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear steering system › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 110,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 4, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,610.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 am from LAL, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLAL 291250Z 03008KT 10SM SCT033 22/19 A3007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 29, 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, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photograph | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA23LA170.