# NTSB DEN89LA172: Cessna T188C, N2802J, Fort Benton, MT, July 7, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 7, 1989, 04:55 local (10:55 UTC)
- Place: Fort Benton, MT
- Coordinates: 47.980278, -110.800117 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9803&lon=-110.8001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17749
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17749/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA172

## Probable cause

OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACHING BOLTS FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Main gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - overload
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT SAID HE WAS TAKING OFF ON A DIRT STRIP WITH A LOAD OF CHEMICALS. AFTER THE ACFT ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 60 KTS, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT THEN SETTLED ONTO ITS LEFT WING & WAS DAMAGED. THE PLT SAID THE ATTACHINGBOLTS ON THE GEAR HAD FAILED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE BOLTS WERE NECKED DOWN IN THE AREA OF THE FRACTURE (INDICATIVE OF OVERLOAD FAILURE).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2802J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2802J), registered now, S/N T18803515T, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T188C
- Registry model: [Cessna T188C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t188c) (registry code 2073012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T18803515T
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-T 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Taylor Aviation, Inc., doing business as Box 134
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: NONE
- Airport: NONE, runway 27, 2,400 × 75 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,600 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 255° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F

## 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 19890707023789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890707023789A), Jul 7, 1989: Cessna T188C, Fort Benton, MT, Substantial damage. Left main landing gear collapsed on the takeoff roll. Settled onto left wing before stopping.

## Other investigations on N2802J (2)

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 CEN25FA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA273), Jul 22, 2025: Cessna T188C (N2802J), Oregon, IL, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB SEA02LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA138), Jul 29, 2002: Cessna T188C (N2802J), Choteau, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inattention to fuel consumption (flight duration) which resulted in a total loss of power and subsequent hard landing.

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.

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