# NTSB WPR09CA319: Cessna LC-126C, N1064D, Lincoln, CA, June 30, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 30, 2009, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, CA - Coordinates: 38.900833, -121.351387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9008&lon=-121.3514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74172 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA319 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74172/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74172 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA319 ## Probable cause A fatigue crack in the left main landing gear strut resulting in the collapse of the strut during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna LC-126C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md?model=2073108), [All aircraft, 72 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/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: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna LC-126C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073108), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna LC-126C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073108), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that when he entered the traffic pattern he observed the windsock indicating the wind was parallel to the runway. The pilot stated that during landing, the airplane "flared with no drift across the runway and touched down as normal." During the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed and separated from the airplane, and the left wing impacted the ground. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway, coming to a rest adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage and left wing. Post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left main landing gear, at the point of separation, contained fractures consistent with fatigue cracks. The Safety Board issued Safety Recommendations A-01-001 and A-01-002 in March 2001, and the FAA issued an "Airworthiness Concern Sheet" in September 2007, both regarding landing gear fatigue on various Cessna airplane models with steel spring landing gear. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that when he entered the traffic pattern he observed the windsock indicating the wind was parallel to the runway. The pilot stated that during the landing the airplane "flared with no drift across the runway and touched down as normal." During the landing roll the left main landing gear collapsed and separated from the airplane, and the left wing impacted the ground. Despite the pilot's control inputs the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway coming to a rest adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage and left wing. Post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left main landing gear, at the point of separation, contained fractures consistent with fatigue. The Safety Board issued Safety Recommendations A-01-001 and A-01-002 in March 2001, and the FAA issued an "Airworthiness Concern Sheet" in September 2007, both regarding landing gear fatigue on various Cessna airplane models with steel spring landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1064D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1064D-2026-08-14), registration cancelled 2026-08-14, S/N 7676 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA LC-126C - Registry model: [Cessna LC-126C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-lc-126c) (registry code 2073108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs R755A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755a-series) (registry code 35006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7676 - Airframe hours: 3912 - Engines: JACOBS R755A SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gerald L LaJoie - Registered owner: Gerald L LaJoie - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2009, 14 hours before - Departed: KLHM, Lincoln, CA - Destination: KLHM, Lincoln, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KLHM, Lincoln Regional Airport, runway 15, 3,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 9, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,020 total, 420 in this make and model, 982 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 48 °F - Observed at: KLHM ## 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 20090630016899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090630016899A), Jun 30, 2009: Cessna LC126C, Lincoln, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft N1064D landed at the Lincoln, CA (lhm) airport at approximately 1100 hrs on 6/30/09. Shortly after touchdown, the left main landing gear… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74172. 9.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 9.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.