North American AT-6 accident near Buffalo, New York, July 1, 1990
On July 1, 1990 at about 6:12 pm local time, a North American AT-6, registered N44ZZ, was destroyed in an accident near Buffalo, New York. It was an other work-use 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
LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT DUE TO PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOTS USE OF AN OVER THE COUNTER ANTIHISTAMINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1990 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Buffalo, New York
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American AT-6 · all AT-6s on the register
- Registration
- N44ZZ · no longer on the register · serial 66-2647
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS IN AN AIRSHOW. THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING A ROLL WHEN AFTER 270 DEGREES OF ROLL, THE RATE DECREASED CONSIDERABLY. THE NOSE DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER IN A 40 DEGREE NOSE DOWN, 45 DEGREES RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE PILOT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A PACKAGE OF 'CALMEX' IN HIS CLOTHING. THIS IS AN OVER THE COUNTER ANTIHISTAMINE. IN ADDITION, THE DRUG DIPHENHYDRAMINE WAS FOUND IN HIS BLOOD, LIVER, AND STOMACH. ACCORDING TO THE FAA EASTERN REGION FLIGHT SURGEON, THE DRUG COULD CAUSE SLOWED REACTION TIMES AND DROSSINESS, AND COULD AFFECT THE PILOT'S PERCEPTION OF EQUILIBRIUM.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,340 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: BUF Buffalo NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.