Probable cause
The pilot's failure to inspect the nose landing gear (NLG), which resulted in a crack going undetected and the subsequent separation of the NLG at the weld area during landing.
NTSB analysis
The airline transport pilot/owner was conducting a personal cross-country flight. The pilot stated that, after the main landing gear touched down, he eased the backpressure on the control stick and that the nose landing gear (NLG) then separated from the airplane. The airplane slid on the runway surface.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the NLG had fractured at a weld area. An airplane manufacturer service bulletin (SB) called for periodic inspection of the NLG for cracks in the weld area every 25 hours. The pilot reported that the NLG had accumulated a total time in service of 371 hours at the time of the accident and that it was last inspected 31 flight hours before the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN16LA157 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 14, 2016
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Mansfield, Ohio
- Nearest airport
- Mansfield Lahm Regional Airpor (MFD)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Czech Sport Aircraft As PIPER SPORT
- N-number
- N197PS
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2010
- 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.