# NTSB DEN00LA151: Cessna 310D, N6981T, Watkins, CO, August 13, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 2000, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Watkins, CO
- Coordinates: 39.749431, -104.600112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7494&lon=-104.6001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50014
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50014/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA151

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to follow procedures and lower the landing gear prior to landing.  Factors were diverted attention and aural perception.

## Analysis

At the completion of a cross-country flight, the pilot was given an abnormal descent by Air Traffic Control and during approach was distracted by another aircraft waiting to depart and he forgot to lower the landing gear.  He said he heard an oral warning device just prior to touch down and thought it was the stall warning.

## Factual narrative

On August 13, 2000, at 1330 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 310D, N6981T, sustained substantial damage during a landing gear retracted landing at Front Range Airport, Watkins, Colorado.  The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured.  The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed.  Visual meteorological conditions for this cross-country flight that originated in Granby, Colorado, approximately 2 hours prior to the accident.

According to the pilot, he was distracted by an abnormal descent given by Air Traffic Control, and another aircraft waiting for takeoff and he forgot to lower the landing gear.  He said he heard an oral warning device just prior to touch down and thought it was the stall warning.

According to a repair station that assessed the damage, the belly skins and some ribs and stringers sustained damage.

## Sequence of events

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

- Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6981T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6981T-2018-01-08), registration cancelled 2018-01-08, S/N 39281 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 310D
- Registry model: [Cessna 310D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310d) (registry code 2074212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 39281
- Airframe hours: 4289
- Engines: Continental IO470D 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph Brannon
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 12, 1999, 100 hours before
- Departed: GNB, GRANDBY, CO
- Destination: FTG
- Airport: FTG, Denver-Front Range, runway 26, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 850 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTG, 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 20000813015489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000813015489A), Aug 13, 2000: Cessna 310D, Denver, CO, No damage. (-23) During the approach to rwy 26 at ftg Mr. Brannon, the pilot of N6981T, was distracted by another a/c who had made a radio call informing other a/c that…

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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