North American AT-6D accident near Sebastian, Florida, April 21, 1995
On April 21, 1995 at about 9:00 pm local time, a North American AT-6D, registered N319DR, was destroyed in an accident near Sebastian, Florida. 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 failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing following loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 1995 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sebastian, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6D · all AT-6Ds on the register
- Registration
- N319DR · no longer on the register · serial 44-81319
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was observed flying southbound over the ocean at about 300 feet and 200 yards from shore. The aircraft's engine was heard to sputter and lose power. The aircraft was observed to make a right 90-degree turn toward the beach. Upon reaching the beach the aircraft started a left turn and then entered a nose down descent from which it crashed on the beach. Postcrash examination of the engine showed the No. 5 cylinder master rod and the connecting rods from the Nos. 1, 4, and 6 cylinders had failed. The engine showed no evidence of oil starvation or excessive heating. The cause of the connecting rod failures was not determined.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,620 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 1994; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AYS Waycross GA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: VRB Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from VRB, 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.