# NTSB CHI91LA076: Cessna 320, N4112T, Middleton, WI, January 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 24, 1991, 09:10 local (15:10 UTC)
- Place: Middleton, WI
- Coordinates: 43.100639, -89.499755 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1006&lon=-89.4998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14995
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14995/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA076

## Probable cause

THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING LANDING ROLLOUT DUE TO EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A SNOWBANK ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - collapsed (cause)
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TAKEOFF HE FAILED TO GET A GEAR UP AND LOCKED INDICATION.  AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO LOWER THE GEAR, HE ELECTED TO RETURN FOR LANDING.  A FLY-BY WAS EXECUTED FOR VERIFICATION OF A GEAR DOWN EXTENSION. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT.  THE NOSE GEAR REMAINED EXTENDED.  THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO A SNOW BANK AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REVEAL A MECHANICAL CAUSE OF THE GEAR MALFUNCTION.  THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT ZERO F. AND HAD BEEN AS LOW AS 10 DEGREES BELOW PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO GEAR RETRACTION MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4112T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4112T-1992-10-29), registration cancelled 1992-10-29, S/N 320D0012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320
- Registry model: [Cessna 320D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320d) (registry code 2074512) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 320D0012
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Gregory D. Held
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000
- Destination: TOP, TOPEKA, KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: C29, Morey, runway 3, 2,970 × 38 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,791 total, 75 in this make and model, 1,780 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: MSN, 5 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 19910124000919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910124000919A), Jan 24, 1991: Cessna 320D, Madison, WI, Substantial damage. No gear up light on takeoff then no down light. Cranked gear. Both mains collapsed landing. Temp zero.

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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