NTSB CHI89LA043 — 1989-01-06 · ROMEO, Michigan, United States

N9890C has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (NORTH AMERICAN T-6G, built 1958), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N9890C Cessna T303 None

Probable cause & findings

THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY DUE TO STRESS CORROSION.

Factual narrative

THE PILOTS STATED THAT THE EN ROUTE FLIGHT AND APPROACH TO LANDING WERE ROUTINE. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AS THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND, THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED DUE TO STRESS CORROSION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD 495 HOURS TOTAL TIME, WITH 45 HOURS SINCE THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION, WHICH OCCURRED IN JUNE 1988. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_CHI89LA043.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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