You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Saturday 8 February 1986 |
| Time: | 15:46 |
| Type: | Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 |
| Owner/operator: | private |
| Registration: | N45105 |
| MSN: | 2611 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2679 hours |
| Engine model: | P&W R-985-AN-1 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Middletown, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Middletown, CA |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE ACFT DEPARTED THE PRIVATELY OWNED DIRT STRIP ON A SALES DEMONSTRATION flight. THE PIC OCCUPIED THE REAR SEAT AND THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER OCCUPIED THE FRONT SEAT. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE ACFT ENTERED INTO A COURSE REVERSAL TURN. DURING THE TURN THE ACFT STALLED. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO RECOVER TO A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE PRIOR TO THE INITIAL GROUND CONTACT. AFTER GROUND CONTACT THE ACFT BOUNCED AND STRUCK THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING/NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK LINE RUPTURED AND A POST IMPACT FIRE BEGAN. THE ACFT ROTATED TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO REST RIGHT SIDE UP. THE OCCUPANTS WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE BURNING ACFT. THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN WITHIN THE PRECEDING FOUR MONTHS. GROUND WITNESSES COULD NOT STATE IF EITHER PLT HAD PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND IF THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED PRIOR TO flight. FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE FUEL SUPPLY TANK WERE FREE OF ANY CONTAMINATION. THE ENG EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION/FAILURE. CAUSE:
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001213X32870
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation