Cessna 414 accident near Springdale, Arkansas, June 13, 1999
On June 13, 1999 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Cessna 414, registered N475JN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springdale, Arkansas (Springdale Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 right main landing gear torque tube support bracket/pivot bearing which resulted in the failure of the landing gear locking mechanism.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1999 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Springdale, Arkansas · Springdale Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414 · all 414s on the register
- Registration
- N475JN · registry record · serial 414-0917
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing roll, the twin-engine airplane's right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that during takeoff, as the airplane lifted off the ground, he heard a 'bump.' Then as the landing gear retracted, just before reaching the up and locked position, he heard a 'loud bang.' The pilot proceeded to his intended destination. At the destination, when the landing gear was lowered, the right main landing gear green light did not illuminate. The pilot raised the landing gear and heard another 'loud bang.' The pilot then elected to return to his departure airport. The pilot performed flybys at an en route airport and at the destination airport to confirm a problem with the right main landing gear. The pilot initiated a slow approach to runway 36, and when landing was assured, shut down both engines. The airplane touched down, and during the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed. An examination of the right main landing gear by an A & P mechanic with an FAA Inspection Authorization (IA), revealed that the 'gear torque tube support bracket/pivot bearing broke allowing the gear down lock tube to break by overtorquing.'
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,480 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,559 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1999; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,350 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASG at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 32A Danville AR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 5,302 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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.