# NTSB ERA26LA028: Consolidated Vultee 28-5ACF, N222FT, Dayton, TN, October 31, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 31, 2025, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Dayton, TN · on airport - Coordinates: 35.483073, -84.933641 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4831&lon=-84.9336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 201944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201944/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201944 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA028 ## Probable cause The collapse of the left main landing gear due to the fatigue fracture of the lower landing gear actuator bolt. ## 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: [Consolidated Vultee 28-5ACF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2422202), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Vultee 28-5ACF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=2422202), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Consolidated Vultee 28-5ACF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2422202), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Consolidated Vultee 28-5ACF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2422202), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane had been out of service for six months due to leaking hydraulic sequence valves. Following installation of the repaired components, maintenance personnel cycled the landing gear multiple times through its full range of travel. System pressure was maintained and no leaks were observed. The airplane was subsequently serviced with fuel, oil, and hydraulic fluid in preparation for a maintenance test flight. The pilot reported that a preflight inspection was completed, and the three crew members boarded the airplane for departure. The before takeoff checks, including a full power run-up of both engines, were completed with no anomalies noted. After takeoff and following the selection of the landing gear to the up position, at about 300 ft above ground level (agl), the flight engineer noticed they were losing hydraulic fluid from the right main landing gear. The left main and nose landing gear had fully retracted; however, the right main landing gear was partially retracted and not in its wheel well. The auxiliary hydraulic pump was selected on, followed by the selection of the landing gear to the down position. The left main gear subsequently indicated down and locked with the green gear position light illuminated; however, the nose gear was in the up position, and the right main landing gear was down but not locked. The flight crew climbed the airplane to about 1,500 ft agl and circled the airport, while the emergency landing gear extension procedure was performed. Following completion of the procedure, the three landing gear green position lights were illuminated indicating that the landing gear was down and locked, and the hydraulic system indicated no system pressure. The flight crew conducted a low pass over the airport while communicating with ground personnel who visually confirmed that three landing gear were in the down position. The airplane returned for landing, and the before landing checklist was completed. Upon touchdown, about 1,500 ft down the runway, the left main landing gear slowly retracted, and the airplane began to veer left. The pilot applied right brake and full right rudder in an attempt to correct for the veer, to no avail. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, the left wing struck a sign before impacting the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and hull. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that all three green landing gear position lights were illuminated; however, the left main landing gear had collapsed. Further examination revealed that the left main landing gear hydraulic actuator attachment bolt had sheared at the lower actuator attach point. In addition, the right wheel well was coated in hydraulic fluid, and the leak appeared to be from a hydraulic line that ran from the bottom of the actuator to the sequence valve. Examination of the failed landing gear bolt revealed reverse bending fatigue resulting from bending loads. The fractured surface exhibiteda distinct overstress region with beach marks visible on both sides. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N222FT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N222FT), registered now, S/N 11074, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CONSOLIDATED VULTEE 28-5ACF - Registry model: [Consolidated Vultee 28-5ACF](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-vultee-28-5acf) (registry code 2422202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1830 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1830-series) (registry code 52020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11074 - Year built: 1944 - Airframe hours: 9620 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 1200 horsepower reciprocating; Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 1200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Pby LLC - Registered owner: Pby LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 28, 2025, 0 hours before - Airport: 2A0, Mark Anton, runway 03, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 38,856 total, 926 in this make and model, 32,986 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,848 total, 12 in this make and model, 1,503 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 8.6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: none; commercial; restraint: lap only ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 250° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 30 nm away - METAR: KCHA 311753Z 25011KT 10SM SCT044 16/04 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP163 T01610039 10167 20067 58009 ## 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 20251031019199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251031019199A), Oct 31, 2025: Consolidated Vultee 28-5ACF, Dayton, TN, Substantial damage. Aircraft was on a test flight after a progressive inspection. While cycling the landing gear in flight, a large hydraulic leak was noticed by the mechanic in… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201944. 20.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19926073&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19720065&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20mechanic%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mor - NTSB materials laboratory (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20205075&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20RE-30-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 583 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19720765&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 5, MOV, 17.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19720674&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMHE4569-Rel.MOV 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.