Nanchang CJ 6 accident near Grass Valley, California, April 19, 2019
On April 19, 2019 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 1989 Nanchang CJ 6, registered N621JM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Grass Valley, California (Nevada County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of brake control due to fatigue fracture of the brake control cable, which resulted in the separation of the cable from the brake handle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2019 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · Nevada County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang CJ 6 A, built 1989 · all CJ 6s on the register
- Registration
- N621JM · no longer on the register · serial 4632023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll, the pilot applied left rudder and lightly depressed the brake handle to exit the runway. About 30° into the left turn, the brakes failed, and the airplane exited the asphalt taxiway surface. Due to obstructions ahead and the downsloping terrain, the pilot applied right rudder and engine power to realign the airplane with the runway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane overran the departure end of the runway and traveled downslope while airborne. The airplane then touched down and impacted a dirt berm before it collided with a fence, nosed over, and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Examination of the airplane revealed that the brake control cable was fractured near the cable thimble and was separated from the brake control handle. The fracture surfaces of the separated cable were consistent with a fatigue fracture. Six of the seven strands of wires exhibited relatively flat fracture surfaces normally oriented to the wire axis, consistent with a progressive fracture mechanism, such as a fatigue fracture. Only one strand and a few of the remaining individual wires showed evidence of minor elongation at the fracture location. It is likely that the cable completely failed during the landing roll when the pilot depressed the brake handle.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,594 hours in all; 368 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,509 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,760.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2018; 36.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,087 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Huosai 6JIA (piston); 1,880 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUN Auburn CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: GOO Grass Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,657 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from KGOO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 8, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - NTSB Investigator | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.