Amateur-built BOBCAT accident near White House, Tennessee, May 31, 1992
On May 31, 1992 at about 5:52 pm local time, a amateur-built BOBCAT, registered N9CK, was destroyed in an accident near White House, Tennessee (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1992 · about 5:52 pm local time
- Place
- White House, Tennessee · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BOBCAT
- Registration
- N9CK · no longer on the register · serial 467
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 110 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 112 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 580 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from BNA, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.