# NTSB CEN26LA041: Douglas B-26B, N9682C, Ponca City, OK, November 1, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 1, 2025, 09:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: Ponca City, OK - Coordinates: 36.731955, -97.099782 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7320&lon=-97.0998&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 19, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA- OKC FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 201979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201979/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201979 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA041 ## Probable cause Failure of the nose landing gear link which resulted in a loss of directional. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas B-26B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=3020514), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas B-26B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3020514), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas B-26B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3020514), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Douglas B-26B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=3020514), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on the takeoff roll, he detected a vibration that he initially attributed to nosewheel shimmy. The vibration became extreme within a few seconds, and the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff by reducing the engine throttles. During the deceleration, the airplane went to the right which the pilot was unable to correct using differential braking. The airplane went off of the paved runway surface and the nose landing gear collapsed forward. Postaccident inspection revealed that the nose landing gear upper retract link assembly had fractured which allowed the nose landing gear to partially collapse in the forward direction. The engine propellers contacted the ground during the event and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9682C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9682C), registered now, S/N 4139230, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUGLAS B-26B - Registry model: [Douglas B-26B](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-b-26b) (registry code 3020514) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-2800 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-2800-series) (registry code 52026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4139230 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1989 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 2000 horsepower reciprocating; Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 2000 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum - Registered owner: American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, February 15, 2024 - Destination: WDG, Enid, OK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PNC, Ponca City Rgnl, runway 17/35, 7,201 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,615 total, 175 in this make and model, 7,223 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 26, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,000 total, 1 in this make and model, 7,800 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KPNC - METAR: METAR KPNC 011553Z AUTO 01008KT 10SM SCT100 11/01 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP242 T01060006= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20251101016829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251101016829A), Nov 1, 2025: Douglas B-26B, Ponca City, OK, Substantial damage. Aircraft experienced a partial nose gear collapse while attempting to take off from Ponca City Regional Airport (kpnc). The pilot stated after matching the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201979. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19982478&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19983233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N9682C%20Gear%20collapse%20narrative-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 683 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19983422&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.