Pilot Debrief

DOUGLAS B-26B near Ponca City, OK — 2025-11-01

Final reportCEN26LA041
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Date
2025-11-01
Location
Ponca City, OK, USA
Airport
PNC
Aircraft
DOUGLAS B-26B
Registration
N9682C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

Failure of the nose landing gear link which resulted in a loss of directional.

NTSB narrative

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.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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