# NTSB BFO85LA076: Cessna 401, N3298Q, Cheswold, DE, September 15, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1985, 07:20 local (11:20 UTC)
- Place: Cheswold, DE
- Coordinates: 39.219947, -75.579063 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2199&lon=-75.5791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11192
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11192/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85LA076

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - fuel tank selector position - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER LANDING ON RUNWAY 27, THE PILOT SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE AIRCRAFT HAD ROLLED OUT ABOUT 1000 FEET WHEN THE GEAR HORN SOUNDED AND ALL THREE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT REACHED FOR THE GEAR SWITCH, WHICH WAS IN THE UP POSITION, BUT THE GEAR COMPLETED ITS RETRACTION AND THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED ALONG THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY 127 FEET. TESTING OF THE SQUAT SWITCH, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, REVEALED THAT THE SWITCH HAD FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3298Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3298Q-1996-11-01), registration cancelled 1996-11-01, S/N 4010098 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 401
- Registry model: [Cessna 401](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-401) (registry code 207590C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 401-0098
- Airframe hours: 5800
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO520 E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aero Quest Aviation
- Registered owner: Kimley W. Leonard
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: INT, WINSTON-SALEM, NC
- Destination: 33N, DOVER, DE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 33N, Delaware Airpark, runway 27, 3,484 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,550 total, 725 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DOV, 8 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850915044959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850915044959A), Sep 15, 1985: Cessna 401, Cheswold, DE, Substantial damage. Suspect inadvertent retraction of gear on rollout. Squat switch had failed.

## Other investigations on N3298Q (2)

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 ATL91FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA148), Aug 1, 1991: Cessna 401 (N3298Q), Monroe, NC, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
- [NTSB FTW77DPG18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77DPG18), Jan 17, 1977: Cessna 401 (N3298Q), Pine Bluff, AR, substantial damage

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.

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