Accident Overview
On March 17, 2010, at about 1132 Pacific daylight time, a North American AT-6F airplane, registration N75AG, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude near Bakersfield, California. The airline transport pilot occupying the front seat and the commercial pilot occupying the rear seat were killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Shafter-Minter Field (MIT), Shafter, California, about 1110.
Witness Accounts
A witness located about one mile southeast of the accident site reported observing the airplane circling his farm, followed by a low pass at an altitude estimated to be between 150 to 200 feet above ground level (agl). The witness further reported that the airplane then departed the area in a climb to the north. A second witness, located about one-half mile south, reported observing the airplane circling overhead, followed by a constant, shallow rate of descent before it impacted terrain in a slightly nose-down attitude. The witness stated that the airplane bounced once before impacting the terrain a second time, followed by a cloud of dust and billowing smoke. The witness added that at no time during the gradual descent did the airplane’s pitch attitude change, and no evasive maneuver was observed.
Aircraft Information
The two-seat, low-wing, retractable landing gear tail-wheel equipped airplane, serial number 112237, was manufactured in 1945. It was equipped with a Pratt and Whitney R-1340, 550-horsepower radial engine and a Hamilton Standard two-blade constant-speed propeller. The airplane’s most recent annual inspection was completed on September 5, 2009, at which time the airplane had accumulated 5,866.1 total hours of operation. The engine had accumulated 116 hours since overhaul.
Pilot Information
The front-seat pilot, age 54, was employed as a pilot for a major FAR Part 121 US cargo carrier. He held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multiengine land, and a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane single-engine sea, and gliders. He reported 10,468 total flight hours. The rear-seat pilot/owner, age 68, was employed as an agricultural pilot. He held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land, and reported 33,300 total flight hours, with 1,750 hours in the accident airplane. He was known in the air racing community and had competed in many air race competitions in the accident airplane since the early 1990s.
Wreckage and Impact
Wreckage debris was scattered over an area of about 865 feet long by 80 feet wide, oriented on a magnetic heading of about 295 degrees. The main wreckage came to rest on its left side on a measured magnetic heading of about 050 degrees. The first identified point of contact was a shallow ground scar about 60 feet in length on a magnetic heading of 320 degrees. Elevator, elevator trim, and rudder control cable continuity was confirmed from the aft fuselage to broomstraw cable separations in the cockpit area. Both wings separated from the center section; the right wing exhibited aft crushing and thermal damage from the post-crash fire. The empennage remained attached to the aft fuselage, with the left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator having separated during impact.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsies performed on both pilots listed the cause of death as "multiple blunt force injuries." Toxicological testing of the front-seat pilot was negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol, but detected Diphenhydramine (0.071 ug/ml in blood, present in urine). Testing of the rear-seat pilot was negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and drugs.
Flight Data
Data from a recovered Garmin GPSMAP 296 indicated the flight departed runway 35 at MIT about 1110, made an immediate left turn to a heading of 270 degrees, and climbed to about 3,950 feet msl. The airplane then performed various turns and maneuvers. Two 360-degree left turns were initiated at about 1127 and 1129. At 1129, altitude was about 3,288 feet msl and groundspeed about 258 mph. The airplane then continued turning left to a north heading, descending to about 650 feet msl (340 feet agl) for a low pass at about 1131, groundspeed about 225 mph. After the low pass, the airplane climbed left to a northwest heading, reaching 860 feet msl (550 feet agl). The last recorded data at 1131:28 showed altitude 390 feet msl (85 feet agl), heading 299.7 degrees, and groundspeed about 202 mph.