North American AT-6D accident near Richvale, California, November 3, 1995
On November 3, 1995 at about 5:10 pm local time, a North American AT-6D, registered N1049A, was destroyed in an accident near Richvale, California (Richvale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the attempt by the pilot to execute an aerobatic maneuver with inadequate altitude to effect recovery before impacting terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 1995 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Richvale, California · Richvale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6D · all AT-6Ds on the register
- Registration
- N1049A · registry record · serial 41-34378
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE NORTH, DID A PULL-UP COURSE REVERSAL AND THEN FLEW SOUTHBOUND OVER THE RUNWAY. AT THE SOUTH END OF THE RUNWAY HE MADE A RIGHT-HAND CLIMBING TURN TO A NORTHERLY HEADING AND COMMENCED AN AILERON ROLL. DURING THE ROLL THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. IT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A UPRIGHT, WINGS LEVEL, NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE AND BURNED ON IMPACT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 23,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,294 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 13, 1994; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MYV, 324 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.