North American NAVION accident near Spokane, Washington, June 9, 1992
On June 9, 1992 at about 5:25 am local time, a North American NAVION, registered N91132, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spokane, Washington (Spokane International airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR TRUNNION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S DECISION TO LAND WITH THE GEAR IN THE UP POSITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1992 · about 5:25 am local time
- Place
- Spokane, Washington · Spokane International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N91132 · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-22
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NAVION HEARD A LOUD POP IN THE AREA OF THE NOSE GEAR WHEEL WELL WHEN HE LOWERED THE NOSE GEAR TO THE RUNWAY DURING A PLANNED FULL-STOP LANDING. AS THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE, THE PILOT EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT INSPECTED THE GEAR WHILE INFLIGHT, AND REPORTED THAT IT WAS BENT OR COCKED TO THE SIDE. THE NAVION PILOT THEN CHOSE TO LAND WITH ALL GEAR IN THE UP POSITION. THE PILOT MADE A SUCCESSFUL TOUCHDOWN, BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED BY THE GRINDING ACTION OF THE ASPHALT RUNWAY.
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: 500 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0S7 Oroville WA at 3:45 am
- Destination: GEG
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.