NTSB: Maintenance Error Caused Cessna CJ4 Gear Collapse in Baton Rouge

A Cessna Citation CJ4 (N361MB) rolled off Runway 31 at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport on Sept. 25, 2025, after its right main landing gear collapsed during rollout. The aircraft, operated by Pacifia LLC, had accumulated only 33 flight hours and was nearly new. All passengers and crew escaped unharmed, and the aircraft was recovered by 11:30 p.m. local time.

The National Transportation Safety Board's final report, released today, attributes the failure to improper installation of the right main landing gear trunnion pin. The pin was not fully seated, allowing it to work free when brakes were applied and causing the gear to penetrate the wing structure. The report notes the pin's critical placement in a confined space and recommends the FAA review maintenance guidance for similar aircraft.

While the NTSB deemed the incident isolated and not a design flaw, it underscores the importance of precise maintenance procedures on business jets. The FAA has begun reviewing the NTSB's recommendations but has not issued an airworthiness directive. No fleet-wide action has been announced, and the Citation CJ4 remains in service with a strong safety record.