Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 accident near Middletown, California, February 8, 1986
On February 8, 1986 at about 11:46 pm local time, a Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, registered N45105, was destroyed in an accident near Middletown, California (7M Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- February 8, 1986 · about 11:46 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, California · 7M Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 · all N3N-3s on the register
- Registration
- N45105 · no longer on the register · serial 2611
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED THE PRIVATELY OWNED DIRT STRIP ON A SALES DEMONSTRATION FLT. THE PIC OCCUPIED THE REAR SEAT AND THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER OCCUPIED THE FRONT SEAT. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE ACFT ENTERED INTO A COURSE REVERSAL TURN. DURING THE TURN THE ACFT STALLED. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO RECOVER TO A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE PRIOR TO THE INITIAL GROUND CONTACT. AFTER GROUND CONTACT THE ACFT BOUNCED AND STRUCK THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING/NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK LINE RUPTURED AND A POST IMPACT FIRE BEGAN. THE ACFT ROTATED TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO REST RIGHT SIDE UP. THE OCCUPANTS WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE BURNING ACFT. THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN WITHIN THE PRECEDING FOUR MONTHS. GROUND WITNESSES COULD NOT STATE IF EITHER PLT HAD PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND IF THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED PRIOR TO FLT. FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE FUEL SUPPLY TANK WERE FREE OF ANY CONTAMINATION. THE ENG EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION/FAILURE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,723 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,405 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,679 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1985; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Middletown CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.