Casualties unknown

Air Taxi Flight Ends with Runway Excursion and Nose Gear Failure (N9964M)

Kotzebue, AK, US

On September 2, 2005, a Cessna 207 (registration N9964M) was involved in an aviation accident near Kotzebue, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the nose gear steering mechanism during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent encounter with the runway. 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 landing, a wheel-equipped airplane veered left, causing right wingtip and propeller contact with runway. Investigation found fractured nose gear steering link and broken steering collar tab, but mechanism undetermined.

Accident Details

An airline transport certificated pilot was performing a landing on a hard surface runway at the conclusion of a commuter air taxi flight. As the pilot lowered the nose wheel to the runway surface, the airplane unexpectedly veered to the left. During the excursion, the right wingtip and propeller struck the runway surface.

Damage Assessment

The operator's director of maintenance reported that the airplane's right wing sustained structural damage to the wing ribs and leading edge. Additionally, the nose gear steering link, which connects the steering shaft and steering collar, was found fractured. The attaching tab on the steering collar was also broken. The director of maintenance stated that the mechanism causing the fracture of the steering collar tab and steering link could not be determined. The steering link itself was not recovered.

Investigation Status

The investigation has not identified a probable cause for the steering link failure, as the missing part and lack of determinable mechanism preclude a definitive conclusion. No further details are available from the source.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20050912X01432. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.