# NTSB CEN13LA252: Cessna P210N, N731NR, Saint Louis, MO, May 1, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 1, 2013, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Saint Louis, MO - Coordinates: 38.662223, -90.651947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6622&lon=-90.6519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 10, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86794 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86794/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86794 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA252 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear or check that it was in the down position before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/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 P210N, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis While on left base of the traffic pattern, an air traffic controller instructed the pilot to make a "short approach" to avoid traffic. The pilot reported that he lowered the landing gear handle but that he was unsure if the landing gear down indicator light had illuminated, and he did not remember visually verifying that the gear was down during the approach. The pilot stated that, during the approach, he was distracted by an odd smell in the cockpit, which he thought may have been the air conditioner malfunctioning. The airplane touched down on the runway surface with the landing gear retracted. Examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot was distracted by the odor in the cockpit and did not lower the landing gear or check that it was in the down position before landing. ## Factual narrative On May 1, 2013, about 0745 central daylight, a Cessna P210N airplane, N731NR, was substantially damaged during a gear up landing at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS), St. Louis, Missouri. The pilot did not report any injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from St. Charles County Smartt Airport (SET), St. Charles, Missouri about 0700. While on left base of the traffic pattern at SUS, the pilot was instructed by air traffic control to make a short approach for traffic avoidance. The pilot stated that he lowered the landing gear handle, but was unsure if the landing gear down indicator light had illuminated. He normally checked the landing gear visually, but did not remember doing so on the approach of the accident. He did not observe an audible landing gear warning horn during the approach. The pilot stated that he was distracted with testing his air conditioner and thought he noticed an odd smell in the cockpit, which he thought may have been the air conditioner malfunctioning. The airplane touched down on the runway surface with the landing gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage structure and engine. During examination by maintenance and Federal Aviation Administration personnel, the landing gear was sequenced several times using both normal and emergency modes, with no abnormalities noted. The red gear up warning light, green gear down light and audible warning horn all functioned properly. The pilot stated that during the airplane's last annual inspection the audible warning system was noted to be out of adjustment. This issue was not duplicated during the examination. Examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731NR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N731NR), registered now, S/N P21000509, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA P210N - Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P21000509 - Airframe hours: 3789 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Crawford Edward J, doing business as Crawford Edward J - Registered owner: Crawford Edward J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 2011 - Departed: SME, Saint Louis, MO - Destination: SUS, Saint Louis, MO - Airport: SUS, Spirit of St. Louis, runway 08R, 7,484 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 5,860 total, 2,800 in this make and model, 5,860 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: SUS, 1 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 20130501007349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130501007349A), May 1, 2013: Cessna P210N, Chesterfield, MO, Substantial damage. On may 01, 2013 at 07:40, a Cessna P210N N731NR was involved in a gear up landing incident while attempting to land on runway 8R. The pilot was the only soul… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86794. 555 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 476 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of correspondence with Federal Aviation Administration inspector (item 2, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20correspondence%20with%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20inspector-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.