Probable cause
The failure of the right main landing gear side brace due to fatigue, which resulted in a collapse of the right main landing gear.
NTSB analysis
During the maintenance test flight, the flight crew moved the landing gear handle to the "down" position but did not observe the three green landing gear down-and-locked lights illuminate. After cycling the landing gear "several" times they observed a gear down-and-locked indication in the cockpit. After landing, while taxiing to parking, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing and aileron struck the ground and sustained substantial damage.
The right landing gear side brace fractured near the fuselage attach forging due to fatigue, which initiated near the weld between the large end fuselage attach forging and the outer tube. No obvious discontinuities such as porosity or undercutting were visually noted in the weld adjacent to the fracture.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC13LA063 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 3, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Fairbanks International Airpor (PAFA)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Curtiss Wright C-46F
- N-number
- N1837M
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Flight test
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.