Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

July 8, 1995 · Bellanca 8GCBC · N57669

Wellington, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 8, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Wellington, CO
Aircraft
Bellanca 8GCBC
Tail Number
N57669
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW95LA279

DURING TOUCHDOWN FOR LANDING AT THE COMPLETION OF A GLIDER TOW FLIGHT, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, JUST OUTBOARD FROM THE FUSELAGE ATTACH POINT. EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE AREA REVEALED THAT THE SPRING GEAR HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT GRINDING HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE SPRING GEAR (DURING MAINTENANCE), WHICH RESULTED IN OVERHEATING OF THE STEEL AND SUBSEQUENT CHANGES IN ITS MICROSTRUCTURE.

NTSB Probable Cause

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR (SPRING STRUT), DUE TO THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (GRINDING) BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

Full Narrative

On July 8, 1995, at 1330 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N57669, sustained substantial damage when the left main landing gear failed during landing roll at Owl Canyon Glider Park, Wellington, Colorado. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area glider tow flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at 1320 and a flight plan was not filed. According to the pilot, his landing sequence following the glider release contained "a mild bounce." The pilot said he added power for the second touch down and when touch down occurred the left main landing gear separated from the aircraft. Examination of the aircraft by the investigator-in-charge provided evidence that the landing gear was of the spring steel type. Separation occurred just outboard of the fuselage attach point and during the ground excursion following the separation, the left wing, wing strut, left elevator, wind screen, left side window and propeller sustained damage. Examination of the fracture surface by the NTSB Metallurgical Laboratory provided evidence of a fatigue failure and evidence that the landing gear spring steel had been ground at some point in time which caused overheating of the steel and subsequent changes in the microstructure. It was the metallurgist's evaluation, that the grinding initiated the fatigue. The metallurgist's report is attached.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:30 MDT
Nearest AirportOwl Canyon Glider Park (0nm)
Runway1
Runway Length2000 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBellanca 8GCBC
Tail NumberN57669
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-C2E · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 49 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 6 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point37 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data