Aviation Crash Map

Flight CTSW N466CT

13 September 2009 · Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 13 September 2009 at about 13:15 local time, a Flight CTSW registered N466CT, operated by Groff Paul D, was involved in an accident near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 13:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Nearest airport
Gettysburg Regional (W05)
Coordinates
39.8411, -77.2744
Aircraft
Flight CTSW
Registration
N466CT
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Groff Paul D
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Gettysburg → Gettysburg
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ERA09LA540

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

The failure of the left main wheel attachment fitting due to overstress.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During landing, the right main landing gear touched first, followed by the left main gear which was accompanied by an audible “thump.” The left main gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the edge of the runway. The left main landing gear attachment fitting was examined at the NTSB materials laboratory and no preexisting fractures were noted. The steel fitting was constructed from tubing and bar stock, and was powder-coated after fabrication. Examination revealed that the fitting failed due to overstress midway along the angled tube portion and that the fractures were consistent with bending loads experienced during landing and taxiing. The examination further revealed that the wall thickness was less than the manufacturer's specifications, and that the interior of the angled tube had been counter-bored prior to the powered coating and final assembly at the factory. Review of the NTSB database revealed that there were two additional accidents that occurred with identical damage incurred; in all instances, the parts failed from an overstress fracture that initiated in approximately the same location.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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All 49 records for this type

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