# NTSB CEN15LA089: Cessna 310J, N700MA, San Antonio, TX, December 18, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 18, 2014, 17:23 local (23:23 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.534444, -98.470558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5344&lon=-98.4706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90546 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90546/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90546 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA089 ## Probable cause The retraction of the left main landing gear after landing for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310J, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2074226), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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 collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2074226), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after departure, he noticed that the landing gear did not retract as usual. He began to troubleshoot the problem and actuated the gear-down lever. The landing gear did not extend, and the green landing gear light in the cockpit did not illuminate. He recycled the landing gear, but the gear still did not extend. The pilot continued to the destination airport and asked an air traffic controller to observe the position of the landing gear. The controller reported that the gear appeared to be down and cleared the flight to land. During the end of the landing roll, the left landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing spar. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear compartment was dirty and covered in oil and debris. However, the examination did not reveal the reason for the landing gear retraction. ## Factual narrative On December 18, 2014, at 1723 central standard time, a Cessna 310J airplane, N700MA, experienced a left main landing gear collapse after landing at the San Antonio International Airport (KSAT), San Antonio, Texas. The pilot and two passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to Laguna Verde Leasing Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The flight departed from the Castroville Municipal Airport (KCVB), Castroville, Texas. The pilot reported that after departure he noticed the landing gear did not retract as usual. He began to troubleshoot the problem and actuated the gear down lever. The landing gear did not extend and the green landing gear light in the cockpit did not illuminate. The gear was recycled and the gear again did not extend. The pilot continued to the destination airport and had air traffic controller observe the position of the landing gear. The tower controller reported that the landing gear appeared to be down and cleared the pilot to land. During the end of the landing roll when the airplane was slow, the left landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector examined the airplane and reported that the landing gear compartment was dirty and covered in oil and debris. The examination did not reveal the reason for the landing gear retraction. The airplane was not able to be examined a mechanic. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N700MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N700MA-2022-01-08), registration cancelled 2022-01-08, S/N 310J0181, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310J - Registry model: [Cessna 310J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310j) (registry code 2074226) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310J0181 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 8441 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-470 470 horsepower reciprocating; Continental Motors IO-470 470 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Alpha Tango Flying Service Inc. - Registered owner: Laguna Verde Leasing Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2014 - Departed: CVB, CASTROVILLE, TX - Destination: SAT, San Antonio, TX - Airport: SAT, San Antonio Intl, runway 12L, 5,519 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 25,800 total, 3,108 in this make and model, 25,400 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KSAT, 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 20141218024169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141218024169A), Dec 18, 2014: Cessna 310J, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. On December 18, 2014, PIC of a Cessna model CE-310, reported the aircraft?s landing gear collapsed after landing (taxi). No injuries reported. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90546. 9.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 8.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433998&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433999&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 327 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434000&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.