Probable cause
Failure of the left main landing gear shock/strut during takeoff for undetermined reasons.
NTSB analysis
During takeoff, the experimental airplane's left main landing gear shock strut rod separated. During an emergency landing, the separated rod impaled the ground, which caused the airplane to nose over on the left wing and come to rest inverted. The airplane was equipped with 35-inch-wide tundra tires. According to the tire manufacturer, several operators of this make/model airplane are equipped with 31-inch-wide tundra tires and there have been no reported shock strut rod separations. The investigation could not determine why the rod separated.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09LA197 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 26, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Guymon, Oklahoma
- Nearest airport
- Guymon Municipal Airport (GUY)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built DAYTONA SU
- N-number
- N170DN
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
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.