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

June 22, 2017 · Cessna 421B B · N380AL

Carlsbad, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 22, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Carlsbad, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 421B B (1972)
Tail Number
N380AL
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR17LA131

The pilot reported that touchdown on the runway and rollout were normal but that the airplane began to wobble as it decelerated to about 10 to 15 mph. He maintained directional control without braking. However, the wobble worsened, and the right main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear torque link pivot bolt assembly was severed, and the two inboard spacer washers, nut, and cotter pin were not located. Additionally, the landing gear trunnion was partially separated from the wing structure. Vertical scuffing was observed on the outboard crown of the right main landing gear tire, which is consistent with the wheel skidding along the ground after becoming misaligned about 90° from normal. Metallurgical examination of the torque link pivot bolt revealed that the bolt fractured through the threaded region at the edge of the pivot barrel in bending overstress, with no evidence of preexisting cracking or corrosion. In addition, the trunnion fractured in overstress, with no evidence of preexisting fatigue cracks or fractures. Alignment of the wheel is achieved by washers installed between the upper and lower torque link assemblies; disconnection of the upper and lower torque link assemblies from one another could result in wheel misalignment, vibration, and ultimately failure of the main landing gear. However, due to postaccident damage to the landing gear and the unrecovered components, there was insufficient evidence available to determine why the right main landing gear collapsed.

NTSB Probable Cause

Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C

Full Narrative

On June 22, 2017, about 1325 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 421B, N380AL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Carlsbad, California. The two pilots were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The pilot receiving instruction reported that the accident flight was the airplane’s first flight after extended maintenance. The pilot said they flew to Ramona, California, and conducted an uneventful landing before flying to Mc Clellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ), Carlsbad, California. He indicated that touchdown on runway 24 and rollout were normal but that, as the airplane decelerated to about 10 to 15 mph, it started to wobble. The pilot maintained directional control without using brakes, but the wobbling intensified; suddenly the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing and engine struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. The flight instructor reported that the approach and landing were normal and that after touchdown, the airplane decelerated "nicely.” He stated that just before they reached taxiway A5, he noticed what felt like a flat tire or oscillation in the gear and asked the pilot to "keep it straight." The instructor recalled that the pilot responded that he wasn't going to brake. A few seconds later, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane rotated toward taxiway N3. The instructor estimated that the airplane’s speed at the time of the gear oscillation was between 5-10 mph. He added that when he learned the bolt that connected the "torque links or scissors" on the right main landing gear assembly had failed, this would explain "how the assembly rotated and then collapsed backwards when the tire became misaligned with the aircraft's momentum." Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear torque link pivot bolt assembly was severed, and the two inboard spacing washers, nut, and cotter pin were not located (see Figure 1). Additionally, the landing gear trunnion was partially separated from the wing structure, and the right main landing gear was separated but remained attached via hydraulic hoses. Figure 1: Service Kit SK421-118 overview of the torque link assembly and associated part with annotated references to the missing parts. Further examination of the right main landing gear revealed that the forward right landing gear trunnion was separated into two pieces, with the lower portion torn away from the upper portion. Scraping was observed on the outboard side of the landing gear strut and brake caliper. The right main landing gear tire exhibited vertical scuffing along its outboard crown. Additional multidirectional striations were observed on the outboard portion of the lower torque link assembly, brake caliper, and lower portion of the landing gear strut assembly. (The upper and lower landing gear strut are interconnected by the upper and lower torque link assemblies. Alignment of the wheel, which is connected to the lower portion of the landing gear strut, is obtained by washers installed between the upper and lower torque link assemblies.) Portions of the right landing gear trunnion, right landing gear brace assembly, and the upper torque link assembly, along with the torque link pivot bolt, were sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for further examination. Metallurgical examination revealed that the torque link pivot bolt was fractured through the threaded region at the edge of the pivot barrel. The fracture surface was partially obscured by red rust deposits but exhibited surface texture, surface topography, and deformation patterns indicative of a bending overstress fracture. No indications of preexisting cracking or corrosion were found. The pieces of the trunnion and the rest of the submitted parts exhibited fractures consistent with overstress, with no indications of preexisting fractures or fatigue cracks.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:25 PDT
Nearest AirportMc Clellan-Palomar (0nm WSW)
Runway24
Runway Length4897 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421B B
Tail NumberN380AL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · GTSIO-520-C · Reciprocating · 340 | Cont Motor · GTSIO-520-C · Reciprocating · 340
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 46 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 57 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 61 F
Altimeter29.84 inHg
Observation Time19:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data