Amateur-built SA-300 accident near Leon, West Virginia, December 8, 1991
On December 8, 1991 at about 10:06 pm local time, a amateur-built SA-300, registered N85JU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leon, West Virginia (Leon Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DEFECTIVE WELDING BETWEEN THE AXLE AND THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR TO COLLAPSE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 1991 · about 10:06 pm local time
- Place
- Leon, West Virginia · Leon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA-300
- Registration
- N85JU · no longer on the register · serial 002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON THE SECOND FLIGHT OF THE DAY IN HIS HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE HAD DEPARTED EARLIER TO PRACTICE SOME AEROBATIC MANEUVERS AND WAS RETURNING TO THE GRASS STRIP WHEN DURING LANDING THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE STRUT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE FAA REVEALED THAT THE STRUT SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN WHEEL DUE TO DEFECTIVE WELDING. THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT HAD A TOTAL OF 7 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 503 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 459 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 959 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,100 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from CRW, 28 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.