What happened
On January 19, 2026, at approximately 13:03 MST, a Cessna 500, registration C-GJVK, was involved in an accident during the landing phase at Great Falls International Airport (GTF) in Great Falls, Montana. The flight was being operated as a personal flight under 14 CFR regulations.
During the approach, the pilot extended the landing gear and observed an unsafe indication for the left main landing gear, although the nose and right main gear indicated down and locked. After the pilot moved the landing gear lever slightly, the left main gear indication changed to down and locked, and all three gear lights remained illuminated for the rest of the approach.
The landing itself was smooth. However, as the aircraft slowed to approximately 30 knots, the pilot felt the left wing begin to lower, causing the left wing and flap to contact the runway. The aircraft veered slightly to the left and came to a stop with the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing resting over the grass. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
Post-accident examination showed that the left wing of the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was recovered and kept for further examination.