Beech C90 accident near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, April 25, 2008
On April 25, 2008 at about 4:23 pm local time, a Beech C90, registered N21SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Baton Rouge Metropolitan, Ryan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Structural failure of the right main landing gear torque knee. A contributing factor was the failure to inspect the torque knee at the designated interval.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2008 · about 4:23 pm local time
- Place
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana · Baton Rouge Metropolitan, Ryan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C90 · all C90s on the register
- Registration
- N21SP · no longer on the register · serial LJ-630
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was landing at the airport when the airplane's right main landing gear collapsed. A preexisting fracture with corrosion was discovered on the right main landing gear torque knee. The main landing gear upper and lower torque knees require an inspection every 1,000 hours by airworthiness directive. Compliance with the airworthiness directive was not maintained and the airplane was allowed to operate without an inspection.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Failure
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 9,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTR Baton Rouge LA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: BTR Baton Rouge LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 7,004 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:13 pm from BTR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N21SP 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.