North American T6G accident near Wilmington, North Carolina, April 4, 1997
On April 4, 1997 at about 10:44 pm local time, a North American T6G, registered N44FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilmington, North Carolina (New Hanover 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing. Factors were: the crosswind and the pilot's lack of experience in type airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1997 · about 10:44 pm local time
- Place
- Wilmington, North Carolina · New Hanover · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T6G · all T6Gs on the register
- Registration
- N44FL · no longer on the register · serial 49-3359
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was landing with a crosswind. The airplane touched down twice and veered to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and right aileron. The airplane continued to the right off the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing tip collided with the ground. Disassembly of the brake assemblies revealed no abnormal conditions. The pilot indicated he has 13 total hours in aircraft type.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 13 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,421 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 1997; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W 1340 AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WWD Cape May NJ at 8:00 pm
- Destination: ILM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from ILM
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.