Probable cause
The fracture of the left main landing gear axle, which resulted in a loss of control during landing.
NTSB analysis
During the landing roll on a turf runway, the airplane's left main landing gear axle fractured, and the left landing gear wheel assembly departed the airframe. The airplane veered to the left, and the remaining portion of the left landing gear collapsed. The propeller and the lower left and right wings contacted the runway and were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a crack had propagated through a manufacturer-welded area near the wheel assembly. The airplane was manufactured in 1961. It had been operated for about 760 total hours since new and 7 hours since its most recent condition inspection, which was performed about 11 months before the accident. A search of the Federal Aviation Administration service difficulty report database for the accident airplane make and model did not reveal any previous similar landing gear failures.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA13CA149 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 24, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Rupert, Georgia
- Nearest airport
- Private (NONE)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
CASA 1.31
- N-number
- N558J
- 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.