Globe GC-1B accident near Los Angeles, California, November 8, 1997
On November 8, 1997 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Globe GC-1B, registered N3232K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Angeles, California (Whitman 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
The pilot's loss of directional control due to an inadvertent ground loop resulting from a deflated tire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1997 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · Whitman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3232K · registry record · serial 1225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During touchdown the right tire blew out. Despite application of full left brake, the pilot lost directional control and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. Thereafter, the conventional main landing gear collapsed and the left wing broke upon contacting the runway. The FAA examined the airplane and reported observing that the right main tire had an 8-inch-long circumferential laceration in the center tread groove. No evidence of pronounced weather checking was observed. The tire was about 9 years old.
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: 393 hours in all; 224 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 393 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,040 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1997; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP at 6:10 pm
- Destination: WHP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,120 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from WHP
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.