North American AT-6G accident near Frederick, Oklahoma, March 23, 1985
On March 23, 1985 at about 9:30 pm local time, a North American AT-6G, registered N9035Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frederick, Oklahoma (Frederick 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 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
- March 23, 1985 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Frederick, Oklahoma · Frederick Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6G · all AT-6Gs on the register
- Registration
- N9035Z · registry record · serial 49-2990
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PASSENGER HEARD A LOUD MECHANICAL NOISE FROM THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING ROLLOUT FROM A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE WINGS WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. CHEVRON-SHAPED SKID MARKS WERE LEFT BY THE TAIL WHEEL. THE PILOT ATTRIBUTED THE LOSS OF CONTROL TO AN IMPROPERLY SEATED TAILWHEEL LOCKING PIN.
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: 490 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 391 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,748 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 10, 1984; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
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.