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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 31, 1992 · Wicks Bobcat · N9CK

White House, TN

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 31, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
White House, TN
Aircraft
Wicks Bobcat
Tail Number
N9CK
Operator
Kay Craig
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL92LA110

The pilot/owner had completed the assembly of his home built airplane and had confirmed that the airplane was airworthy, before taxiing for takeoff. A witness at the sod airstrip observed the pilot's takeoff and climb to about 500 feet. The pilot made shallow turns and returned back over the airstrip, and was last seen flying in a wings level attitude west of the airstrip. The witness reported hearing a cracking sound and then saw the left wing and left door separate from the airframe. The airplane crashed in an adjacent field about 300 yards from the sod airstrip. Examination of the airframe and fractures failed to disclose a material failure. However, according to the building plans, the spar tongue which attaches the wing to the airframe, was not properly constructed with a plywood plate on the aft side of the tongue. The examination further confirmed that the wing fittings and bolts were secure. A review of the airframe maintenance log failed to disclose a current periodic inspection. The Federal Aviation Administration's

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT/OWNER'S IMPROPER DESIGN CHANGE OF THE WING SPAR WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE LEFT WING. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT/OWNER'S FAILURE TO PERFORM A PERIODIC INSPECTION.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT/OWNER HAD COMPLETED THE ASSEMBLY OF HIS HOME BUILT AIRPLANE AND HAD CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS AIRWORTHY, BEFORE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF. A WITNESS AT THE SOD AIRSTRIP OBSERVED THE PILOT'S TAKEOFF AND CLIMB TO ABOUT 500 FEET. THE PILOT MADE SHALLOW TURNS AND RETURNED BACK OVER THE AIRSTRIP, AND WAS LAST SEEN FLYING IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE WEST OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE WITNESS REPORTED HEARING A CRACKING SOUND AND THEN SAW THE LEFT WING AND LEFT DOOR SEPARATE FROM THE AIRFRAME. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN AN ADJACENT FIELD ABOUT 300 YARDS FROM THE SOD AIRSTRIP. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND FRACTURES FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MATERIAL FAILURE. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING PLANS, THE SPAR TONGUE WHICH ATTACHES THE WING TO THE AIRFRAME, WAS NOT PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED WITH A PLYWOOD PLATE ON THE AFT SIDE OF THE TONGUE. THE EXAMINATION FURTHER CONFIRMED THAT THE WING FITTINGS AND BOLTS WERE SECURE. A REVIEW OF THE AIRFRAME MAINTENANCE LOG FAILED TO DISCLOSE A CURRENT PERIODIC INSPECTION. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION'S

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:52 CDT
Nearest AirportPRIVATE (1nm W)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftWicks Bobcat
Tail NumberN9CK
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorKay Craig
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503 · Reciprocating · 48
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 37 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 12 kt, gusting 19 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data