Casualties unknown

Landing gear collapse after temporary wrench repair (N6294Q)

Springfield, MO, US

On November 6, 1984, a Cessna 401A (registration N6294Q) operated by MC Cauley Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Springfield, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The landing gear collapse during taxi due to the failure of a temporary repair involving a damaged wrench clamped to the strut after an electrical failure prevented normal gear extension. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft suffered a second landing gear collapse during taxi after the pilot attempted a temporary fix for an electrical failure by clamping a wrench to the strut.

What happened

The flight crew encountered an electrical failure that prevented the normal extension of the landing gear. In response, they manually extended the gear and performed a temporary repair on the ground. To secure the landing gear in the down position, the pilot clamped a wrench to the landing gear strut, effectively creating a stiff-legged configuration.

Despite this improvised measure, the aircraft experienced a second collapse of the landing gear while taxiing to the active runway for takeoff or landing. The temporary repair failed during this ground movement.

The investigation

Examination of the makeshift repair revealed that the wrench used to clamp the strut had broken. Further inspection indicated that the tool appeared to have sustained previous damage prior to its use in the emergency repair, suggesting it was not suitable for the task.

Probable cause

The landing gear collapse during taxi due to the failure of a temporary repair involving a damaged wrench clamped to the strut after an electrical failure prevented normal gear extension.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X41645. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.