Probable cause
Failure of the left main landing gear due to the loss of the protective paint coating and a change in the local surface finish from impermissible grinding, which resulted in fatigue cracking.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing roll at about 15 mph the airplane veered to the right. He applied left rudder and left brake to correct for the veer, but the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage and left wing. Examination of the left main landing gear by the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed that it fractured due to the loss of its protective paint coating and alteration of the local surface finish, likely caused by impermissible surface grinding, which led to intergranular attack and subsequent fatigue cracking.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA25LA295 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 8, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Nearest airport
- Memphis Intl (MEM)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 195
- N-number
- N1950C
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1954
- 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.