Casualties unknown

Aerial Application Aircraft Damaged After Landing Gear Failure on Roadway (N21744)

Watford City, ND, US

On June 30, 1996, a Cessna A188B (registration N21744) was involved in an aviation accident near Watford City, ND. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land on a roadway containing a deep depression, which led to the separation of the right main landing gear. 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

During an aerial application flight, a pilot attempted an emergency landing on a nearby road due to equipment malfunction. The right main landing gear collapsed upon contact with a depression in the pavement.

What happened

The incident occurred during an aerial application operation when the automatic flagger system experienced a mechanical jam. To address the issue, the pilot decided to execute an emergency landing on a roadway situated approximately one mile from the intended spray field.

Upon touchdown, the right main landing gear struck a significant depression located on the shoulder of the road. This impact caused the right main gear assembly to separate completely from the airframe. As a result of the structural failure, the propeller and the right wing made contact with the ground surface.

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to land on a roadway containing a deep depression, which led to the separation of the right main landing gear.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X05947. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.