# Accident 19971004042689A: Cessna 210L, Albuquerque, NM, October 4, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 4, 1997, 19:00 local time
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Airport: Albuquerque International Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0593° N, 106.6193° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0593&lon=-106.6193&mi=10
- Aircraft: N93089, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93089-2013-09-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 210L (registry code 2073448, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210L
- Reported engine: CONT IO520L
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 7,940 total, 5,500 in this make and model, 82 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA021) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971004042689A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON FINAL, PILOT DISTRACTED BY GPS ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT, FAILED TO CHECK GEAR POSITION. (.4) THE PILOT WAS VECTORED ONTO A LONG FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 30. ABOUT 3 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY, HE SLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO 140 KNOTS (VGO), THEN SLOWED FURTHER TO THE FLAP OPERATING SPEED (VFO). HE WAS GOING THROUG THE FINAL PRELANDING CHECKLIST WHEN A `BRIGHT' ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT ON THE GPS (GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) DISPLAY PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS DISTRACTED BY THIS LIGHT AND WAS TRYING TO TURN IT OFF. THE PILOT WROTE, `WITH THIS DISTRACTION, I FAILED TO CHECK FOR THE GEAR DOWN GREEN LIGHT AND LANDED WITH THE GEAR UP. THE GEAR HORN CAME ON AS I FLARED, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.' (-23) ON OCTOBER 4, 1997, APPROXIMATELY 1900 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 210L, N93089, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN INADVERTENT WHEELS UP LANDING AT ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT ABOARD, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT SANTA ROSA, NEW MEXICO, APPROXIMATELY 1800                                                                . THIS EVENT WAS ORIGINALLY CLASSIFIED AS AN INCIDENT AND UPGRADED TO AN ACCIDENT AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS INSPECTED BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 30, HE MADE A FINAL PRELANDING CHECK. HIS ATTENTION WAS DISTRACTED BY AN ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT ON THE GPS (GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) THAT HAD SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT THEN HEARD THE GEAR WARNING HORN. HE FAILED TO ASCERTAIN THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED, AND INADVERTENTLY LANDED WHEELS UP.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA021), Oct 5, 1997: Cessna 210L (N93089), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear. A related factor was his attention being diverted.

## Other reports on N93089 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19870907056769I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870907056769I), Sep 7, 1987: Cessna 210L (N93089), Albuquerque, NM, Minor damage. Demonstrating a night landing from the right seat to a pilot passenger. Landed gear up.
- [Incident 19790616022739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790616022739I), Jun 16, 1979: Cessna 210L (N93089), Santa Fe, NM, Minor damage. Pilot unable to extend the landing gear. Mechanic found it binding. Case not yet known.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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