Stinson 108-3 accident near Montague, California, July 5, 1992
On July 5, 1992 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N592C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montague, California (Rohrer Field). 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
THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE LEFT WHEEL DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT AND THE RESULTANT INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT NATURE OF THE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED BY THE AIRCRAFT AFTER LEAVING THE RUNWAY SURFACE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1992 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Montague, California · Rohrer Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N592C · no longer on the register · serial 108-3592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL DISINTEGRATED JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND HE COULD NOT PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM VEERING OFF THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE GRASSY DIRT AREA NEXT TO THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT AXLE DUG INTO THE SOIL AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ITEM ON THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1948 AND HAS ACCRUED A TOTAL TIME IN SERVICE OF 1,407 HOURS. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD REMOVED AND INSPECTED THE WHEEL THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND THAT IT APPEARED NORMAL. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE WHEEL PIECES BY THE PILOT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A SMALL FAIRLY RECENT CRACK IN THE WHEEL CASTING NEAR THE AXLE. THE PILOT FURTHER SAID THE CRACK WAS IN THE INSIDE PART OF THE WHEEL AND UNDER THE TIRE WHERE IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN OBSERVED UNLESS THE WHEEL HAD BEEN COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 7,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,407 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 1991; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: YVR Vancover
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 3,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.