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

September 28, 2002 · Cessna 421B · N7926R

Mineral Wells, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 28, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (6 uninjured)
Location
Mineral Wells, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 421B
Tail Number
N7926R
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW02LA269

During the landing roll, the left wing dropped, as the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft slid off the left side of the runway and came to a stop shortly thereafter. A pilot-rated passenger, who was seated in the right front seat during the accident, stated that the landing was "normal, [and] the left wing dipped after touchdown like the landing gear gave way." A witness, who was a pilot in an airplane at the approach end of runway, reported that "the approach of the airplane appeared normal until the aircraft was about 5 to 10 feet in the air, at which time the aircraft descent rate started to accelerate. The airplane touched down at a higher than normal sink rate." The airplane bounced after touchdown, and the left main landing gear appeared to collapse. The witness stated, "In my opinion it was a hard landing which would require at least a visual inspection before flying again."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate which resulted hard landing and a subsequent failure of the main landing gear.

Full Narrative

On September 28, 2002, approximately 1040 central daylight time, a Cessna 421B twin-engine airplane, N7926R, was substantially damaged following loss of control after the left main landing gear separated during a hard landing at the Mineral Wells Airport (MWL), Mineral Wells, Texas. The commercial pilot and the five passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Dosmatic USA Inc., of Carrollton, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Texas, approximately 1000, and was destined for Mineral Wells. The pilot reported that the flight approached MWL from the east, entered a left downwind for runway 13, and "the approach and landing were normal." During the landing roll, after touchdown on runway 13, the left wing dropped. The aircraft slid off the left side of the runway and came to a stop shortly thereafter. A pilot-rated passenger, who was seated in the right front seat during the accident, stated that the landing was "normal, [and] the left wing dipped after touchdown like the landing gear gave way." A witness, who was a pilot in an airplane at the approach end of runway 13, reported that "the approach of the airplane appeared normal until the aircraft was about 5 to 10 feet in the air, at which time the aircraft descent rate started to accelerate. The airplane touched down at a higher than normal sink rate." The airplane bounced after touchdown, and the left main landing gear appeared to collapse. The right main landing gear failed as the airplane departed the runway. "In my opinion it was a hard landing which would require at least a visual inspection before flying again." Examination of the left main landing gear assembly revealed that the left bellcrank was fractured. According to a metallurigist, the fracture surface displayed 45 degree shear lips that was consistent with overstress. At 1053, the Mineral Wells weather observation facility, located at the airport, reported the wind was calm.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:40 CDT
Nearest AirportMineral Wells (0nm)
Runway13
Runway Length6000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421B
Tail NumberN7926R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520-H · Reciprocating · 375
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (6 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured6
Total6
Crew 1Age 41 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data