Rohrer Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Montague, California 96097
Sunday, July 5, 1992 11:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL DISINTEGRATED JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND HE COULD NOT PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM VEERING OFF THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE GRASSY DIRT AREA NEXT TO THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT AXLE DUG INTO THE SOIL AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ITEM ON THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1948 AND HAS ACCRUED A TOTAL TIME IN SERVICE OF 1,407 HOURS. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD REMOVED AND INSPECTED THE WHEEL THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND THAT IT APPEARED NORMAL. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE WHEEL PIECES BY THE PILOT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A SMALL FAIRLY RECENT CRACK IN THE WHEEL CASTING NEAR THE AXLE. THE PILOT FURTHER SAID THE CRACK WAS IN THE INSIDE PART OF THE WHEEL AND UNDER THE TIRE WHERE IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN OBSERVED UNLESS THE WHEEL HAD BEEN COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE LEFT WHEEL DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT AND THE RESULTANT INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT NATURE OF THE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED BY THE AIRCRAFT AFTER LEAVING THE RUNWAY SURFACE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MONTAGUE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96097
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ROHRER FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 105
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 2527
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2246
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 5 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47018
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:05PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N592C
NTSB Number LAX92LA282
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name STINSON
Aircraft Model 108-3
Aircraft Series Identifier 108-3
Aircraft Serial Number 108-3592
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 21 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 1407
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TALMADGE WESTMORELAND
Aircraft Owner Street Address 998 GETOUN DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City CONCORD
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94518
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TALMADGE WESTMORELAND
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 998 GETOUN DRIVE
Operator City CONCORD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94518
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CCR
Departure City CONCORD
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code YVR
Destination City VANCOVER
Destination State CD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 3600
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --