Gulfstream Am CORP Comm Div 695A accident near Bishop, California, April 26, 2018
On April 26, 2018 at about 7:55 pm local time, a 1982 Gulfstream Am CORP Comm Div 695A, registered N79PH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Bishop, California (Bishop airport). It was a business 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 left main landing gear upper arm forging due to fatigue cracking and subsequent overstress, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2018 · about 7:55 pm local time · cases in 2018
- Place
- Bishop, California · Bishop · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gulfstream Am CORP Comm Div 695A A, built 1982 · all 695As on the register
- Registration
- N79PH · registry record · serial 96029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that before touching down on the runway with a 13-kt 50° right crosswind, the landing gear were down with the three green landing gear lights illuminated. After touching down and beginning the ground roll, the airplane pulled slightly to the left, the left wing dropped, and the airplane started to pull harder to the left. The pilot corrected with right rudder and brake, as well as reverse power on the right engine. The left wing dropped further, and the airplane pulled harder to the left before coming to rest about 10 ft from the left edge of the runway. The left main landing gear had collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the left main landing gear upper arm forging failed from fatigue cracking. The largest fatigue crack appeared to have initiated along multiple sites along scratch-like features on the outside surface of the arm. These cracks grew inward under spectrum loads until the loads from the accident landing could not be withstood by the remaining cross section, causing the part to fracture in overstress.
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
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Failure other cases naming the landing gear
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Fatigue/wear/corrosion other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,636 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 10,466 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 15, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,666 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2017; 102 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,250 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Airesearch TPE331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Airesearch TPE331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: BIH Bishop CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 7,498 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from BIH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – accident site view 1
Photo 2 – accident site view 2
Photo 3 – accident site photo 3
Photo 4 – accident site photo 4The 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on March 25, 2021. 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 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 17 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Release of Wreckage and Return of Parts Forms | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array of Airplane at Accident Site | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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
- N79PH on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Gulfstream Am Corp Comm Div 695 18 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Airesearch TPE331 4 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Airesearch TPE331 4 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bishop Airport · nearest airport
- Chino Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,069 since 1982 · 1,087 in the last ten years
- California 27,673 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR18LA129.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.