Wendover Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wendover, Utah 84033
Wednesday, July 24, 1991 8:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE WACO KNF WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL HIS AIRCRAFT WHEN IT PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT UPON LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND FLIPPED OVER IN THE SOFT DIRT. THE PILOT HAD ADDED AN UNAUTHORIZED O-RING ON TOP OF THE OLEO STRUT SEAL. HE SAID THAT THE SEAL WAS LEAKING AND HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT IN THE LOCAL AREA, WHILE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. AFTER DEPARTURE THE NEXT MORNING THE STRUT FAILED TO FULLY EXTEND, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL UPON LANDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT INSTALLED AN IMPROPER 'O' RING WHICH RESTRICTED NORMAL LANDING GEAR EXTENSION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL BY THE PILOT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/1991
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 815
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City WENDOVER
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84033
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WENDOVER FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ENV
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 4200
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 862
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45079
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number NC698N
NTSB Number SEA91LA188
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 WACO
Aircraft Model KNF
Aircraft Series Identifier KNF
Aircraft Serial Number 3246
Certified Max Gross Weight 1872
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM C. PHELPS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3207 BONANZA DR.
Aircraft Owner City CAMERON PARK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95682
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM C. PHELPS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3207 BONANZA DR.
Operator City CAMERON PARK
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95682
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 EKO
Departure City ELKO
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 645
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 12
Runway Length 8000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --