North American T-6G-NA accident near New River, Arizona, January 23, 1999
On January 23, 1999 at about 9:12 pm local time, a North American T-6G-NA, registered N2757G, was destroyed in an accident near New River, Arizona. 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 pilot's delayed recovery after an intentional stall/spin of 3 to 4 rotations. A factor was the pilot's inadequate entry altitude for the intended maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1999 · about 9:12 pm local time
- Place
- New River, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T-6G-NA · all T-6G-NAs on the register
- Registration
- N2757G · no longer on the register · serial 49-2987A
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While performing aerobatics between 3,000 and 4,000 feet agl, the airplane impacted terrain. According to a second airplane pilot, who was in loose trail behind the accident aircraft, the maneuvers that were briefed by the accident pilot included, climbs, dives, turns, barrel rolls and loops. The second pilot said the accident aircraft began a high G pull-up. At the top of the climb, the aircraft nosed over and began a slight left turn. The left turn became a hard left that turned into a partial snap roll with a resulting spin to the left. About 3 to 4 turns had been observed when the aircraft began to recover. However, during the recovery, it struck the ground in a near level attitude and burst into flames. Winds were light and the sky was clear. Remains of rear control stick were not found in the female attachment fitting. The aircraft's POH states that the aircraft will lose 500 feet of altitude for each full spin rotation. Postaccident examination did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,270 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 4,876 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- 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
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from DVT, 15 miles away
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.