NTSB BFO90LA069 — 1990-08-16 · FREDERICK, Maryland, United States

N8239A has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (VAN'S AIRCRAFT RV-9A, built 2025), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N8239A Cessna 170B None

Probable cause & findings

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WHEEL AXLE.

Factual narrative

THE PLT WAS DOING HIS ELEVENTH TOUCH AND GO LANDING WHEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AXLE FAILED DURING THE LANDING ROLL, CAUSING THE ACFT TO GROUND LOOP. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE AXLE WAS FRACTURED AT ITS FLANGE JUNCTION. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED FATIGUE CORROSION ON THE FRACTURE SURFACE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_BFO90LA069.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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