Probable cause
Failure of the nose landing gear link which resulted in a loss of directional.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that on the takeoff roll, he detected a vibration that he initially attributed to nosewheel shimmy. The vibration became extreme within a few seconds, and the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff by reducing the engine throttles. During the deceleration, the airplane went to the right which the pilot was unable to correct using differential braking. The airplane went off of the paved runway surface and the nose landing gear collapsed forward. Postaccident inspection revealed that the nose landing gear upper retract link assembly had fractured which allowed the nose landing gear to partially collapse in the forward direction. The engine propellers contacted the ground during the event and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26LA041 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 1, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Ponca City, Oklahoma
- Nearest airport
- Ponca City Rgnl (PNC)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Douglas B-26B
- N-number
- N9682C
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1946
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
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.