North American AT-6D accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida, May 23, 1987
On May 23, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a North American AT-6D, registered N2996Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida (Fernandina Beach Munic. airport). 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 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
- May 23, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fernandina Bch, Florida · Fernandina Beach Munic. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6D · all AT-6Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2996Q · no longer on the register · serial 493071
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TAIL WHEEL STRUT WAS FOUND TO BE OVER SERVICED CAUSING IT TO BE EXTENDED HIGHER THAN NORMAL. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE AIRCRAFT TO BE HARDER TO STEER. ON LANDING IN A CROSS WIND THE PILOT EXPERIENCED VIBRATION OF THE TAIL WHEEL FOLLOWED BY FAILURE DUE TO TORSIONAL OVERSTRESS OF THE TAIL WHEEL BELLCRANK. TAIL WHEEL STEERING CONTROL WAS THEN LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY CAUSING COLLAPSE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR.
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
- Flight time: 417 hours in all; 198 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 395 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,985 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISM Kissimmee FL at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from CRG, 16 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.
Other NTSB records under N2996Q 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.