John Thomason LACO 145 N89ST

Summary

On 3 April 1993 at about 18:10 local time, a John Thomason LACO 145 registered N89ST, operated by Grimes, Charles J., was involved in an accident near Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 April 1993 at 18:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Tuskegee, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Tuskegee Municipal (06A)

Coordinates

32.3896, -85.6808

Aircraft

John Thomason LACO 145

Registration

N89ST

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Grimes, Charles J.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Smiths → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL93LA069

Nobody was injured.

THE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE TAIL WHEEL LEAF SPRINGS, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING A NORMAL LANDING; THE TAIL WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN FIRST, THEN THE MAINS. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL LEAF SPRINGS HAD FAILED. THERE WAS CORROSION ON ONE OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES; HOWEVER, METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SPRINGS REVEALED THAT ALL FRACTURES WERE FROM OVERLOAD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ALL OF THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE NOT LOCATED; THEREFORE, A COMPLETE METALLURGICAL STUDY WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE AIRCRAFT TOTAL TIME WAS 26 HOURS; HOWEVER, THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE INSTALLED IN A USED CONDITION, AND THE MAINTENANCE HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.