# NTSB investigations: Nose/tail landing gear

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 1 of 4 · 185 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR26LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA114.md): American Champion 8GCBC · Carefree, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 2, 2026 · N636DB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot reported that he landed the tailwheel equipped airplane at a backcountry airstrip, and while taxiing on rough terrain, the tailwheel spring failed and the tailwheel assembly separated from the airplane. The pilot shut down the airplane and exited to…
- [NTSB ERA26LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA104.md): Cessna 150L · Gantt, SC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 28, 2026 · N67WJ · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and a nose landing gear collapse.
- [NTSB CEN26LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA078.md): Piper PA-22-160 · Sealy, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 4, 2026 · N8877D · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the nose wheel during landing that resulted in a loss of directional control and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR26LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA028.md): Cessna 305 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 18, 2025 · N4584N · Substantial damage
  > A worn tailwheel steering mechanism, which resulted in a locked tailwheel and a ground loop during a landing roll.
- [NTSB CEN26LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA021.md): Beech C23 · Tulsa, OK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 15, 2025 · N2130W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard bounced landing.
- [NTSB CEN25LA392](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA392.md): Diamond DA20-C1 · Terre Haute, IN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 19, 2025 · N544KC · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the nose landing gear strut and associated nosewheel separation during takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN25LA361](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA361.md): Piper PA-30 · Caro, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 2, 2025 · N26RJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to remove the tow bar before flight.
- [NTSB CEN25LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA333.md): Parks Fokker D-VII Replica · Englewood, CO · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 22, 2025 · N18852 · Substantial damage
  > A malfunction of the tailwheel which resulted in a runway excursion and ground loop.
- [NTSB CEN25LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA287.md): Aerotek Pitts S-2A · New Holstein, WI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 26, 2025 · N83PS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of direction control during landing due to an unapproved tailwheel assembly and tail spring that resulted in a tailwheel shimmy and a subsequent ground loop.
- [NTSB CEN25LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA246.md): Thorp T18 · Lake Elmo, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 6, 2025 · N18CH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain obstacle clearance during the go-around, that resulted in the tailwheel impacting a taxiway sign, a subsequent loss of control due to the damaged tailwheel, and a runway excursion during the landing.
- [NTSB WPR25LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA164.md): Cessna T210M · Tucson Estates, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 29, 2025 · N6419B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN25LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA134.md): Cessna 152 · Denton, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 20, 2025 · N68332 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the gusty crosswind and windshear during landing.
- [NTSB ERA25LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA090.md): Hinson Melvin J Velocity · Norfolk, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 5, 2025 · N160MH · Substantial damage
  > A landing gear collapse during landing in gusty crosswind conditions.
- [NTSB CEN25LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA071.md): Cessna 150F · McKinney, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 4, 2025 · N3589L · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action and the student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper landing flare, which resulted in a nose down impact with the runway.
- [NTSB ERA25LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA042.md): Vans RV8-A · Cleveland, GA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 8, 2024 · N69LM · Substantial damage
  > A nose landing gear collapse on landing and subsequent nose over.
- [NTSB WPR24LA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA237.md): Baxter Daniel David Starduster TOO SA300 · Scappoose, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 6, 2024 · N96558 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll with a tailwheel shimmy.
- [NTSB WPR24LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA177.md): Banes John Scott Kitfox Series 6 · Parowan, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 30, 2024 · N506F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to control the airplane during landing due to tailwheel assembly damage sustained during a previous shimmy event that occurred for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
- [NTSB CEN24LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA211.md): Cessna 172RG · Chandeleur Island, LA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 22, 2024 · N751DW · Substantial damage
  > A fatigue failure of the engine oil pressure line, which resulted in the loss of engine oil during the flight and subsequent damage to the nose landing gear support structure during the precautionary landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA147.md): Piper PA-22-150 · Emmett, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 12, 2024 · N3915P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing roll due to a loose tailwheel leaf spring assembly.
- [NTSB CEN24LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA075.md): Beech C23 · Mansfield, LA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 1, 2024 · N9729L · Destroyed
  > The nose landing gear collapse and postimpact fire due to undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB ERA24LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA084.md): Golden Avio S R L F30 Brio · Midland, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 31, 2023 · N37GA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in damage to, and the separation of the nose wheel and fork bracket assembly, and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear assembly.
- [NTSB WPR24LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA061.md): Glasair SH2 · Prescott, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 26, 2023 · N29TT · Substantial damage
  > Loss of directional control during landing due to an improperly constructed and maintained tailwheel locking assembly.
- [NTSB ERA24LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA002.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Gallipolis, OH · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 2, 2023 · N7461W · Substantial damage
  > A collapse of the nose landing gear during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with an approach lighting system.
- [NTSB CEN23LA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA398.md): Van's RV-12 · Crystal, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 4, 2023 · N321BT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and an overstress fracture of the nose landing gear strut.
- [NTSB CEN23LA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA365.md): Cessna A188B · Chillicothe, MO · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 11, 2023 · N9237R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to operate the airplane with a known tailwheel anomaly, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
- [NTSB WPR23FA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA286.md): Risen 915 iS · Glendive, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 28, 2023 · N2442 · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin.
- [NTSB ERA23LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA302.md): Pollock Michael D Velocity 173RG · Lebanon, NH · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 17, 2023 · N173DT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to store the nose landing gear securing bar within reach in the cabin, which resulted in a nose gear collapse following a manual landing gear extension.
- [NTSB ERA23LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA277.md): Rockwell International 695 · Philadelphia, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 31, 2023 · N515AM · Substantial damage
  > Failure of the nose gear support structure for unknown reasons, which resulted in the nose landing gear collapsing during landing.
- [NTSB WPR23LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA207.md): Cessna 182Q · Kingman, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 26, 2023 · N94599 · Minor damage
  > The failure of the passenger to adequately maintain a safe distance from the airplane’s propeller and the determination to let the passenger exit the airplane with the engine running.
- [NTSB ERA23LA378](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA378.md): Cirrus Design SR20 · Savannah, GA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 25, 2023 · N177EM · Substantial damage
  > Failure and collapse of the nose landing gear during landing.
- [NTSB ERA23LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA091.md): Cessna R172K · Brooksville, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 16, 2022 · N5405V · Substantial damage
  > A hard landing that fractured the nose landing gear assembly, resulting in a loss of directional control and a nose-over.
- [NTSB ERA23LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA088.md): Cessna 305 · Alabaster, AL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 10, 2022 · N5301G · Substantial damage
  > Failure of the tailwheel locking mechanism, which resulted in a loss of control during landing and a runway excursion.
- [NTSB ERA22LA434](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA434.md): Cessna 414 · Augusta, GA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 26, 2022 · N745EP · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the nose landing gear to fully extend and lock into position for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in its collapse during landing.
- [NTSB CEN22LA427](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA427.md): Cessna A188A · Canby, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 12, 2022 · N2122U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing, which resulted in an overload failure of the tailwheel cross tube and subsequent impact with the runway.
- [NTSB ERA22LA396](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA396.md): Navion Navion · Newburyport, MA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 31, 2022 · N4913K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s excessive application of brakes while landing, which resulted in a nose gear collapse.
- [NTSB ERA22LA382](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA382.md): Aeronca 7AC · Clermont, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 21, 2022 · N44FC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control while landing due to a worn tailwheel locking mechanism, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22LA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA327.md): Cessna 150 · Hanson, MA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 17, 2022 · N5859E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and partial loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to depart and land with a known mechanical deficiency with the nose landing gear.
- [NTSB ANC22LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA054.md): Cessna 182D · McGrath, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 6, 2022 · N8754X · Substantial damage
  > A nose landing gear collapse during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB CEN22LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA257.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · Gettysburg, SD · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 5, 2022 · N901BW · Substantial damage
  > An inadvertent hard landing by the pilot.
- [NTSB WPR22LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA163.md): Textron T206H · Santa Barbara, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 21, 2022 · N20617 · Substantial damage
  > The loss of directional control for undetermined reasons. Contributing was the overstress fracture of the nose gear upper trunnion brace attach point.
- [NTSB CEN22LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA153.md): Piper PA-46-600TP · Olive Branch, MS · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 23, 2022 · N627PR · Substantial damage
  > The airplane’s hard right turn during landing in crosswind conditions and a subsequent loss of directional control due to adverse airplane-pilot coupling attributable to the design of the nose landing gear, whose directional stability was sensitive to…
- [NTSB ERA22LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA164.md): Hartz Paul RV-6A · Lake City, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 17, 2022 · N447P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in overload bending of the nose landing gear leg and subsequent nose-over.
- [NTSB ERA22LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA121.md): Piper PA 46-350P · Crystal River, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 1, 2022 · N35CM · Substantial damage
  > Collapse of the nose wheel landing gear assembly due to lateral loads encountered on the turf runway during rollout.
- [NTSB CEN22LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA060.md): Piper PA-46-310P · Cassville, MO · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 1, 2021 · N444DT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to reinstall the nose landing gear linkage prior to the flight which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.
- [NTSB ERA21LA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA385.md): Doan Vernon D W10-WITTMAN Tailwind · Brooksville, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 29, 2021 · N68TW · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the nose landing gear retention bolt during taxi which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with the taxiway.
- [NTSB WPR21LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA339.md): Cessna A185F · Arlington, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 8, 2021 · N185BB · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue fracture of the tailwheel fitting spring, which resulted in the loss of directional control during the landing roll.
- [NTSB WPR21LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA337.md): Cessna 172E · Enterprise, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 2, 2021 · N3965S · Substantial damage
  > The fatigue fracture of the nose gear upper torque link, which resulted in the separation of the torque link from the shock strut and a loss of directional control.
- [NTSB WPR21LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA344.md): Cessna 182E · Eugene, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 31, 2021 · N3186Y · Substantial damage
  > Loss of directional control due to damage to the nosewheel strut that was sustained during a previous landing.
- [NTSB ERA21LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA312.md): Beech K35 · Readington, NJ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 30, 2021 · N44DB · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the forward end of the landing gear actuator rod.
- [NTSB CEN21LA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA352.md): North American AT-6F · Adrian, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 28, 2021 · N6601C · Substantial damage
  > The loss of control during landing due to the out of rig condition of the tailwheel which resulted in a ground loop and impact with the runway.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?page=2

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '01023220'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.