Amateur-built - accident near Castroville, Texas, April 29, 2024
On April 29, 2024 at about 6:20 pm local time, a amateur-built -, registered N822CH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Castroville, Texas (Castroville Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the right main landing gear axle due to multiple fatigue crack initiation points joining into a single larger crack.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2024 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Castroville, Texas · Castroville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built -
- Registration
- N822CH · no longer on the register · serial 350B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he thought he struck a pothole while landing on the grass runway. During the landing sequence, the airplane experienced a postimpact fire, and the airplane was destroyed. The pilot sustained thermal injuries and was hospitalized for an extended time period. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear axle had fractured during the landing sequence, and the landing gear leg punctured the fuel tank which likely contributed to the postimpact fire. Metallurgical examination revealed a series of ratchet marks consistent with multiple fatigue crack initiation points joining into a single larger crack on the right main landing gear axle. The fatigue crack extended across about 30% of the cross section of the tube before final failure due to overstress. The locations of the fatigue initiation points were consistent with the cyclic bending forces that would have been applied to this section of the landing gear under normal landing and takeoff conditions.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,242 hours in all; 383 in this make and model; 1,242 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 28, 2022
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 304 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 26, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from KHDO, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHDO 291851Z AUTO 15008G15KT 10SM FEW042 SCT050 BKN100 30/19 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP098 T03000189
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
PG 2 Photograph 1 – Main wreckage
PG 3 Photograph 2 – Main wreckage
PG 4 Photograph 3 – Right main landing gear assemblyThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on September 4, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Materials Laboratory Email Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Airport Manager | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation - Flight Instructor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.