Cessna 500 accident near Great Falls, Montana, January 19, 2026
On January 19, 2026 at about 8:03 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 500, registered CGJVK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Great Falls, Montana (Great Falls Intl 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 2026 · about 8:03 pm local time
- Place
- Great Falls, Montana · Great Falls Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 500 CITATION, built 1973 · all 500s on the register
- Registration
- CGJVK · no longer on the register · serial 500-103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 19, 2026, about 1303 mountain standard time, a Cessna 500 airplane, C-GJVK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Great Falls International Airport (GTF), Great Falls, Montana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations personal flight. The pilot reported that during the approach he extended the landing gear and received an unsafe indication for the left main landing gear while the nose gear and right main landing gear indicated down and locked. He then moved the landing gear lever slightly and received a down and locked indication for the left main landing gear. All three landing gear down and locked lights were illuminated for the remainer of the approach. The landing was smooth and as the airplane slowed to about 30 knots, the pilot felt the left wing begin to lower and the left wing and flap then contacted the runway. The airplane veered slightly to the left and came to rest with the left wing over the grass and with the left main landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane’s left wing sustained substantial damage. The airplane was recovered and retained for further examination.
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 aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,337.1 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 14, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 11,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: IDA Idaho Falls ID at 6:45 pm
- Destination: GTF Great Falls MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03/2, 10,502 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 16 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KGTF, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGTF 191953Z 24016G21KT 10SM CLR 07/M11 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP254 T00671106 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.