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CHI89DEM07

1989-08-27 · MT PLEASANT, Michigan, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport MOP

N787PA has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC MK30), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE TAIL WHEEL SPRING BECOMING DISCONNECTED RESULTING IN THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

Factual narrative

A SEVERE TAIL WHEEL SHIMMY WAS EXPERIENCED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT CONTACTED A DITCH. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE LEFT SIDE TAIL WHEEL SPRING WAS FOUND ON THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT SIDE SPRING REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE RUDDER, BUT WAS DISCONNECTED AT THE TAIL WHEEL STEERING HORN. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_CHI89DEM07.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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