Leon Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Leon, West Virginia 25123
Sunday, December 8, 1991 17:06 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ON THE SECOND FLIGHT OF THE DAY IN HIS HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE HAD DEPARTED EARLIER TO PRACTICE SOME AEROBATIC MANEUVERS AND WAS RETURNING TO THE GRASS STRIP WHEN DURING LANDING THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE STRUT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE FAA REVEALED THAT THE STRUT SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN WHEEL DUE TO DEFECTIVE WELDING. THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT HAD A TOTAL OF 7 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE DEFECTIVE WELDING BETWEEN THE AXLE AND THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR TO COLLAPSE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/8/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1706
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LEON
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 25123
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LEON FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WV30
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 563
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1651 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID CRW
Elevation of weather observation facility 563
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 28
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1842
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45720
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N85JU
NTSB Number BFO92LA012
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name JOHN W UPTON
Aircraft Model SA-300
Aircraft Series Identifier SA-300
Aircraft Serial Number 002
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 959
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN W. UPTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 139
Aircraft Owner City EVANS
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 25241
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN W. UPTON
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 139
Operator City EVANS
Operator State WV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 25241
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
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 0
Runway Length 3100
Runway Width 45
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --