Weaver WACO-ASO accident near Montague, California, June 9, 1991
On June 9, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Weaver WACO-ASO, registered N4W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montague, California (Montague airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Montague, California · Montague · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weaver WACO-ASO
- Registration
- N4W · registry record · serial 3101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,819 hours in all; 1,198 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 2,551 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 1990; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 61S Cottage Grove OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,360 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:23 pm from S1Y, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.