# NTSB ATL99LA032: Cessna 310C, N218S, Ft Myers, FL, December 9, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 9, 1998, 18:21 local (23:21 UTC) - Place: Ft Myers, FL - Coordinates: 26.560194, -81.870796 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5602&lon=-81.8708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45467 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45467/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA032 ## Probable cause The inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane by the pilot and subsequent malfunction of the nose gear strut, and the pilot's failure to follow the landing checklist. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Complete gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear strut - collapsed (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During his preflight inspection of the airplane the pilot did not notice that the nose gear strut had collapsed and was not fully extended. After takeoff the landing gear retraction was normal. When the pilot arrived at the destination airport, the pilot lowered the landing gear handle, completed the before landing check, but did not confirm cockpit indications of the landing gear position. The airplane touched down with the nose gear in the retracted position. Examination of the landing gear system revealed that the nose gear strut failed to extend in the wheel well and interfered with the right hand nose gear door. ## Factual narrative On December 9, 1998, at 1821 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 310C, N218S, registered to a private individual, landed with the landing gear retracted at Page Field, in Fort Myers, Florida. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. A review of weather data from the nearest reporting facility revealed that visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An examination of the airplane at the accident site, by an Airworthiness Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, disclosed that the airframe sustained substantial structural damage to the underside of the airframe. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Daytona Beach, Florida, at 1700. According to the pilot, during his preflight inspection of the airplane he did not notice that the nose gear strut had collapsed and was not fully extended. After takeoff the landing gear retraction was normal. When the pilot arrived at the destination airport, the pilot lowered the landing gear handle, during the before landing check, but did not confirm cockpit indications of the landing gear position. The pilot reported that the gear warning horn sounded seconds prior to touchdown. The airplane touched down with the nose gear in the retracted position. Examination of the landing gear system revealed that the nose gear strut failed to extend in the wheel well and interfered with the right hand nose gear door. Maintenance and service information on the nose wheel strut was not available. The airplane was last inspected on February 7, 1998. The before landing checklist instructs the pilot to check the landing gear down and lock indicators. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N218S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N218S-2012-09-21), registration cancelled 2012-09-21, S/N 35963, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310C - Registry model: [Cessna 310C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310c) (registry code 2074210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 35963 - Airframe hours: 6000 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bill Meazell, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 1998, 28 hours before - Departed: 44J, SPRUCE CREEK, FL - Destination: FMY, FORT MEYERS, FL - Airport: FMY, Paige Field, runway 5, 6,401 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,400 total, 215 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FMY ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19981209033159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981209033159A), Dec 9, 1998: Cessna 310C, Ft Myers, FL, Substantial damage. Acft landed gear up. (-23) pilot selected gear down & checked gear handle position twice. Pilot did not verify a green gear down light. Aircraft landed gear… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.