Beech 99 accident near Waterville, Maine, October 14, 2020
On October 14, 2020 at about 12:20 pm local time, a 1969 Beech 99, registered N499CZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Waterville, Maine (Waterville Robert Lafleur Airp airport). 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
A failure of the right main landing gear drag leg support fitting and angle bracket as a result of multiple areas of fatigue cracking.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2020 · about 12:20 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Waterville, Maine · Waterville Robert Lafleur Airp · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 99 A, built 1969 · all 99s on the register
- Registration
- N499CZ · registry record · serial U-81
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing to the ramp, the airplane’s right main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Examination of the right main landing gear drag leg support fitting and angle bracket revealed several areas of fatigue cracking with multiple origins. The attach angle bracket fracture exhibited features consistent with fatigue. The reason for the crack initiation could not be determined. A review of the maintenance procedures performed on the right main landing gear 8 days prior to the accident found that they instructed the mechanic to add grease to the drag leg fitting. The procedures did not specify to examine the landing gear for fatigue cracking or anomalies; therefore, it is unlikely that the mechanic would have looked in the area of the cracked main landing gear drag leg support fitting and angle bracket. Furthermore, there was no nondestructive testing procedures for examining the main landing gear drag brace, so it’s unlikely an inspection would have detected the multiple areas of fatigue cracking.
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 taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Fatigue/wear/corrosion other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,656 hours in all; 577 in this make and model; 144 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,081 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 18, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39,544.4 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 6, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 10,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 (turboprop); 5,817 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 (turboprop); 11,791 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHT Manchester NH at 11:06 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 am from KWVL
Weather report (METAR): KWVL 141156Z AUTO 33003KT 10SM CLR 10/09 A2972 RMK AO2 SLP093 60002 70224 T01000089 10100 20083 51015
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Airplane at rest.
Photo 2 – Aft View of Right Wing
Photo 3 – Right Support Drag Leg (Section C) as found.
Photo 4 – Right Support Drag Leg (Sections A & B) as found on airplane.
Photo 5 – View of spar damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on September 30, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Most Recent Maintenance Work Cards | PDF, 23 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Director of Maintenance | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Right Main Landing Gear Overhaul Maintenance | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Program Excerpts - Right Main Landing Gear | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | 22-005 Materials Lab Factual Report (ERA21LA021) | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N499CZ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft 99 Airliner 34 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 13 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 13 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Waterville Regional · nearest airport
- Manchester Boston Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Maine 532 since 1982 · 69 in the last ten years
- Maine 1,425 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA21LA021.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.