- Date
- September 2, 1992, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Smithfield, NC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N6979BCessna 210M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 29, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920902037419A
- Case key
- 8658
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's operation of the airplane with known electrical deficiencies which resulted in a failure of the landing gear hydraulic powerpack. The pilot also failed to follow emergency procedures for lowering the landing gear. Factors were an inoperative alternator and a weak battery.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot arrived at the airport and discovered that the airplane's battery was weak. He requested an electrical boost from a local mechanic to start the engine. After starting the engine, the pilot allowed the engine to run for several minutes before taxiing to the runway for takeoff. The pilot reported that the runup procedure was normal. He also turned off all electrical equipment, but left one communication radio on. After liftoff, the pilot discovered that the landing gear would not retract completely. The pilot elected to continue the flight and, while en route, he attempted manually to lower the main landing gear, but felt pressure on the emergency extension handle and decided to discontinue the extension operation. During the landing roll, at the destination airport, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. As the right wing was lifted up, during the wreckage recovery phase, the pilot lowered the right main gear with the emergency extension handle. Examination of the electrical system disclosed that a diode in the alternator had slipped from its normally installed position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6979B
- Reported as
- Cessna 210M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21062863
- Airframe hours
- 2,860
- Engine
- Continental IO-520 L2, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Montague, Harvey L.
- Registered owner
- Montague, Harvey L.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 11, 1991 · 138 hours before
- Departed
- RW5 · Fuquay-Varina, NC
- Destination
- W27
- Airport
- JNX · Johnston County, runway 3, 4,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,795 total · 1,136 in this make and model · 1,795 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDU, 30 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.