Waco KNF accident near Wendover, Utah, July 24, 1991
On July 24, 1991 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Waco KNF, registered NC698N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wendover, Utah (Wendover 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
PILOT INSTALLED AN IMPROPER 'O' RING WHICH RESTRICTED NORMAL LANDING GEAR EXTENSION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1991 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wendover, Utah · Wendover Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco KNF
- Registration
- NC698N · no longer on the register · serial 3246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE WACO KNF WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL HIS AIRCRAFT WHEN IT PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT UPON LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND FLIPPED OVER IN THE SOFT DIRT. THE PILOT HAD ADDED AN UNAUTHORIZED O-RING ON TOP OF THE OLEO STRUT SEAL. HE SAID THAT THE SEAL WAS LEAKING AND HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT IN THE LOCAL AREA, WHILE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. AFTER DEPARTURE THE NEXT MORNING THE STRUT FAILED TO FULLY EXTEND, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL UPON LANDING.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,663 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 5,484 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,872 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner K-5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKO Elko NV at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under NC698N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.