Beech 1900C accident near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, April 30, 2018
On April 30, 2018 at about 3:30 am local time, a 1982 Beech 1900C, registered N172GA, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Joe Foss Field). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the right main landing gear drag brace bolt for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2018 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota · Joe Foss Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 1900C, built 1982 · all 1900Cs on the register
- Registration
- N172GA · registry record · serial UB-11
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the twin-engine, turbopropeller-equipped airplane started to taxi for takeoff, the right main landing gear collapsed, deforming the aft center wing lower spar cap. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear drag brace bolt failed at the wing forward attach point. As the airplane moved forward, the strut pivoted aft, collapsing the landing gear. The drag brace bolt was not retained, and the reason for its failure could not be determined based on the available information.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during taxi defining event
- Landing gear collapse during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Spar (on wing) › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,968 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command; 1,955 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 28, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 41,851 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 10, 2018; 117 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65B (turboprop); 27,719 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65B (turboprop); 15,685 hours total
- Operator: Alpine Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: FSD Sioux Falls SD at 3:30 am
- Destination: RAP Rapid City SD
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 160° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 am from KFSD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 31, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | E-mail from FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Factual Narrative Changes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N172GA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.