North American AT-6F accident near Long Beach, California, July 28, 1995
On July 28, 1995 at about 11:40 pm local time, a North American AT-6F, registered N3173L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Daugherty Field). 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 failure of the left main landing gear locking mechanism to fully seat in the 'down' position due to loose attachment bolts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1995 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Daugherty Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6F · all AT-6Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3173L · registry record · serial 413279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PILOT ROLLED OUT ON FINAL HE RECOGNIZED A CROSSWIND AND CRABBED INTO THE WIND ANTICIPATING A CROSSWIND LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SLID OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY STRIKING A SIGN ON A CONCRETE BASE. THE PILOT WAS APPLYING RIGHT AILERON AND LEFT RUDDER TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND DURING THE LANDING. THE MECHANICAL DOWN LOCK FOR THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS FOUND BROKEN AND DISPLACED. THE MECHANICAL INDICATOR FOR GEAR POSITION DID NOT SHOW THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TO BE IN THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION. THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE DOWN LOCK WERE NOT PROPERLY SEATED, ALLOWING THE DOWN LOCK TO SHIFT FROM ITS MOUNTED POSITION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,689 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W 1340DN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTV Porterville CA at 10:06 pm
- Destination: LGB
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:40 pm from LGB
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.
Other NTSB records under N3173L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.