Cessna 414 accident near Jasper, Georgia, June 18, 2022
On June 18, 2022 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 414, registered N414HF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Jasper, Georgia (Pickens County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
The failure of the owner to comply with a service bulletin, which resulted in the failure of the left main landing gear torque tube due to fatigue cracking.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2022 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jasper, Georgia · Pickens County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414, built 1973 · all 414s on the register
- Registration
- N414HF · registry record · serial 414-0389
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After touchdown on the runway, the airplane’s left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to the left, departed the runway surface, and struck a taxiway sign. The left wing was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination revealed that the left main landing gear torque tube had fractured, which resulted in the gear collapse. Further examination of the torque tube revealed that it failed from fatigue cracks that originated in multiple locations. A service bulletin issued by the airplane’s manufacturer required replacement of the torque tube at 4,000 hours time in service to prevent fatigue failure of the torque tube; however, the airplane had accrued about 5,000 hours total time, and the tube was original to the airplane. While compliance with the service bulletin was not mandatory, replacement of torque tube would have likely prevented the accident.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Replacement › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,410 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 22, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2021; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,765 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 5,165 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 5,165 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 18A Canon GA at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 34, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from VPC, 28 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KVPC 182335Z AUTO 01008G13KT 330V040 10SM CLR 30/11 A2997 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on November 15, 2023. 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 | Pilot's Written Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Mor FAA Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Cessna Service Bulletin MEB09-2 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 7 | FAA Fact Sheet - Service Bulletins and the Aircraft Owner | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.