What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was conducting a cross country plane trip. After two earlier flights in the day the pilot took off and the left main landing gear tire fell off after rotation. He was informed by the local UNICOM person about the tire coming off. Pilot decided to fly to Lewiston airport where there was crash rescue available. After burning off fuel pilot landed the aircraft. The aircraft drifted to the right after the right main and tailwheel touched down and drifted into the dirt next to the runway. When the left gear touched down the axle dug into the dirt causing the aircraft to come up on its nose and ground loop to the left. The right wingtip, the propeller, and the engine cowling impacted the ground. The right wing spar was bent at the outboard rib.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A CROSS COUNTRY PLANE TRIP. AFTER TWO EARLIER FLIGHTS IN THE DAY THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE FELL OFF AFTER ROTATION. HE WAS INFORMED BY THE LOCAL UNICOM PERSON ABOUT THE TIRE COMING OFF. PILOT DECIDED TO FLY TO LEWISTON AIRPORT WHERE THERE WAS CRASH RESCUE AVAILABLE. AFTER BURNING OFF FUEL PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AFTER THE RIGHT MAIN AND TAILWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN AND DRIFTED INTO THE DIRT NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE LEFT GEAR TOUCHED DOWN THE AXLE DUG INTO THE DIRT CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO COME UP ON ITS NOSE AND GROUND LOOP TO THE LEFT. THE RIGHT WINGTIP, THE PROPELLER, AND THE ENGINE COWLING IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE RIGHT WING SPAR WAS BENT AT THE OUTBOARD RIB.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N4798Z · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.