# Accident 20251101016829A: Douglas B-26B, Ponca City, OK, November 1, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 1, 2025, 10:35 local time
- Place: Ponca City, OK
- Airport: Ponca City Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.7320° N, 97.0998° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7320&lon=-97.0998&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9682C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9682C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Douglas B-26B (registry code 3020514, https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-b-26b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 series (registry code 52026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-2800-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS B-26B
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 8,614 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA041) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251101016829A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM PONCA CITY REGIONAL AIRPORT (KPNC). THE PILOT STATED AFTER MATCHING THE THROTTLES AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, HE DETECTED WHAT FELT LIKE NOSEWHEEL SHIMMY THAT PROGRESSED TO WHAT HE CHARACTERIZED AS EXTREME WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. THE PILOT INITIATED A TAKEOFF ABORT BY CHOPPING BOTH THROTTLES TO IDLE AND COMMENCED MODERATE TO HEAVY WHEEL BRAKING. AT THIS POINT, THE PILOT STATED HE DETECTED THE AIRCRAFT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT WITH DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING, AND THE AIRCRAFT EVENTUALLY DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR UPPER RETRACT LINK ASSEMBLY HAD FRACTURED CAUSING THE GEAR TO BUCKLE FORWARD WHICH ALLOWED THE ENGINE PROPELLERS TO CONTACT THE GROUND DAMAGING BOTH PROPELLERS.  ALSO, SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS INCURRED TO THE MAIN BULKHEAD SEPARATING THE COCKPIT FROM THE AIRCRAFT BOMB BAY AND NUMEROUS CRACKED RIBS WERE FOUND IN THE BOMB BAY. THIS ACCIDENT IS DOCUMENTED IN SAS UNDER TASK T-SW15-FY26-0467 AND ACTIVITY SW15202600732.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA041), Nov 1, 2025: Douglas B-26B (N9682C), Ponca City, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the nose landing gear link which resulted in a loss of directional.

## Other reports on N9682C (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19991001030319I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991001030319I), Oct 1, 1999: Doug B26B (N9682C), Midland, TX. (-23) During an airshow the pilot declared an emergency for a rough running engine and landed without incident. A crashed distribuor cap and a bad coil were…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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