Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 accident near Madera, California, May 5, 1990
On May 5, 1990 at about 2:00 am local time, a Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, registered N45184, was destroyed in an accident near Madera, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY DESCENDING INTO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INFLIGHT OPENING OF THE HOPPER LID WHICH PARTIALLY OBSCURED THE PILOT'S VISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1990 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Madera, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 · all N3N-3s on the register
- Registration
- N45184 · registry record · serial 2837
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A CROP DUSTER INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO THE GROUND WHILE RETURNING TO LAND AFTER THE LID TO THE HOPPER CAME OPEN SPRAYING THE PILOT WITH THE CHEMICAL. THE CHEMICAL PARTIAL OBSCURED THE VISIBILITY OF THE PILOT AND WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS DESCENDING, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE NON-CURRENT PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1990; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Madera CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 am from MFI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.