Probable cause
The failure of the left main landing gear wheel on landing due to overstress, which resulted in the pilot’s loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to install wheels with insufficient loading capacity for the airplane.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that, during the landing roll, the left main landing gear wheel fractured. The experimental-homebuilt airplane subsequently veered off the runway and flipped over. Postaccident examination of the fractured left main wheel revealed that the wheel failed due to overstress of the cast aluminum alloy; no evidence of preexisting cracks was observed. According to the pilot, the wheel had accrued only 11.4 hours since he had installed it, and it had about 15 cycles (landings) at the time of the accident. The wheels installed on the airplane were designed for ultralight aircraft that have an empty weight of less than 254 pounds. The accident airplane weighed about 954 pounds and would have required wheels with a higher loading capability.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13LA534 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 7, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Castroville, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Castroville Municipal (CVB)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built ROSE PARRAKEET
- N-number
- N1732
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.