Cessna 414 accident near Augusta, Georgia, September 26, 2022
On September 26, 2022 at about 1:00 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 414, registered N745EP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Augusta, Georgia (Augusta Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the nose landing gear to fully extend and lock into position for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in its collapse during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2022 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Georgia · Augusta Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414 UNDESIGNAT, built 1974 · all 414s on the register
- Registration
- N745EP · registry record · serial 414-0498
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after an uneventful cross-country flight, while on short final approach to the runway, he received an unsafe nose landing gear (NLG) indication and performed a go-around. The pilot reported that the main landing gear indicator lights showed that the landing gear were down and locked; however, the NLG indicator light was flickering on and off. The pilot cycled the landing gear with the landing gear switch while in the traffic pattern and received confirmation from the tower controller that the landing gear appeared down. Subsequently, the pilot continued the traffic pattern to landing and, upon touchdown, the NLG collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop on the runway. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. Examination of the landing gear system found no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the nose landing gear. Damage sustained to the airframe prevented the landing gear system from being tested. The manual landing gear extension crank was found in an intermediate position, which likely would have prevented the nose landing gear from fully extending and locking into place. The investigation was not able to determine whether the crank was improperly stowed, or not fully engaged, during flight, or whether the crank was moved after the accident during recovery operations.
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
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Malfunction
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,207 hours in all; 498 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,071 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 24, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,358.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 6,800 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental Motors Inc TSIO-520-NCNB (piston); 5,061 hours total
- Engine 3: Continental Motors Inc TSIO-520-NCNB (piston); 5,061 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 15J Adel GA at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from AGS
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAGS 261353Z 01005KT 10SM CLR 24/19 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP126 T02390189 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on January 30, 2024. 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 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record (Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Mechanic Email Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | C414 - Service Manual - Landing Gear System | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | C414 Airplane Flight Manual - Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.