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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

June 9, 1991 · Weaver Waco-Aso · N4W

Montague, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 9, 1991
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Montague, CA
Aircraft
Weaver Waco-Aso
Tail Number
N4W
Operator
Willard Detour
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX91LA256

The certificated pilot and one passenger were departing the airport following a refueling stop on a cross country flight from a vintage airplane show. During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported that the airplane developed a vibration in the tailwheel. The airplane drifted off the left side of the runway and the pilot attempted to correct with right rudder and right brake. The pilot applied power and the airplane became airborne momentarily. The airplane then settled and the right wheel contacted the runway surface with the brake locked. The airplane swerved to the right, the left landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded off the right side of the runway and nosed over. A witness reported hearing scraping and squeaking noises emanating from the airplane prior to takeoff and mentioned it to the pilot. The pilot replied that he had 'soft brakes' in the past. The pilot also reported that the tailwheel bearing was found shattered but this had occurred during the initial trip to the vintage airshow.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES.

Full Narrative

THE CERTIFICATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE DEPARTING THE AIRPORT FOLLOWING A REFUELING STOP ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM A VINTAGE AIRPLANE SHOW. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION IN THE TAILWHEEL. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH RIGHT RUDDER AND RIGHT BRAKE. THE PILOT APPLIED POWER AND THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE MOMENTARILY. THE AIRPLANE THEN SETTLED AND THE RIGHT WHEEL CONTACTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE WITH THE BRAKE LOCKED. THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, THE LEFT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING SCRAPING AND SQUEAKING NOISES EMANATING FROM THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND MENTIONED IT TO THE PILOT. THE PILOT REPLIED THAT HE HAD 'SOFT BRAKES' IN THE PAST. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT THE TAILWHEEL BEARING WAS FOUND SHATTERED BUT THIS HAD OCCURRED DURING THE INITIAL TRIP TO THE VINTAGE AIRSHOW.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 PDT
Nearest AirportMONTAGUE (0nm)
Runway32
Runway Length3360 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftWeaver Waco-Aso
Tail NumberN4W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWillard Detour
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · W670-6A · Reciprocating · 220
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 71 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 7 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:23
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data