# NTSB CEN12CA036: Cessna 210J, N3309S, West Chicago, IL, October 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 23, 2011, 16:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: West Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.906944, -88.248336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9069&lon=-88.2483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - DuPage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82145 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82145/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82145 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA036 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before touchdown due to his failure to use a checklist. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2073439), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2073439), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2073439), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear position and warning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative; cases with it: [Cessna 210J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/cases.md?model=2073439), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073439), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that before landing he mistakenly positioned the four-position landing gear selector lever to the down-neutral position instead of the full-down position. He further noted that he did not notice the lack of sound and feel of the landing gear extending and the lack of an illuminated green landing gear position light; he also did not visually confirm that the main landing gear had extended. The airplane landed with the gear up, damaging several lower fuselage structural bulkheads and stringers. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had used a checklist to ensure that the landing gear had been properly extended. He further noted that the airplane's landing gear unsafe warning horn had been inoperative for some time. A postaccident examination of the landing gear extension/retraction system did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented the landing gear from extending normally. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that before landing he mistakenly selected the four-position landing gear selector lever to the down-neutral position instead of the full-down position. He further noted that he failed to recognize the lack of sound and feel of the landing gear extending, the lack of an illuminated green landing gear position light, and the lack of visual confirmation that the main landing gear had not extended. The airplane landed gear-up damaging several lower fuselage structural bulkheads and stringers. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had used a checklist to ensure that the landing gear had been properly extended. He further noted that the airplane's landing gear unsafe warning horn had been inoperative for some time. A postaccident examination of the landing gear extension/retraction system did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented the landing gear from extending normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3309S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3309S), registered now, S/N 21059109, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210J - Registry model: [Cessna 210J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210j) (registry code 2073439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21059109 - Airframe hours: 4272 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-520-J 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: International ALERT Academy - Registered owner: International ALERT Academy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 2011 - Departed: 06C, Schaumburg, IL - Destination: KDPA, West Chicago, IL - Airport: KDPA, DuPage Airport, runway 20R, 7,571 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 222 total, 31 in this make and model, 174 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KDPA ## 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 20111023024609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111023024609A), Oct 23, 2011: Cessna 210J, West Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. Private pilot and commercial pilot rated passenger failed to extend the landing gear prior to contacting the runway 20R at dpa. ## Other investigations on N3309S (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 CHI74FCA02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74FCA02), Apr 3, 1974: Cessna 210J (N3309S), Livingston, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82145. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 938 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357089&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Inspection Report (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Inspection%20Report-Master.PDF - Cessna 210J Owner's Manual, excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357104&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20210J%20Owner%27s%20Manual,%20excerpts-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF 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.