Pilot's Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rock Springs, Montana 59312
Sunday, June 10, 2007 9:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On the fourth takeoff of the morning, with a 170 gallon chemical load and full fuel tanks, the takeoff run had progressed about 30 to 35 yards when the left landing gear broke. The airplane's left wing subsequently impacted the ground before the airplane went up on its nose, then back down on its right landing gear. An FAA inspector determined that the left landing gear leg failed 6 inches above the wheel.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the left main landing gear due to fatigue.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/10/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Rock Springs
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59312
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 464912N
Event Location Longitude 1061911W
Event Location Airport pilot's private airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3022
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID MLS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2630
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.76
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22315
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 11 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2007 11:30AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena, Montana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2535J
NTSB Number SEA07LA166
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T188C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number T18803471T
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 181
Airframe Hours 7163
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dennis A. Pluhar
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Angela
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59312
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Rock Springs
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2007 1:27PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 040
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --