# NTSB DEN99LA127: Cessna T210F, N6726R, Albuquerque, NM, July 23, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1999, 17:33 local (23:33 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.060119, -106.62014 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0601&lon=-106.6201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46917 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46917/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent wheels up landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Fire, unknown - reason for occurrence undetermined ## Analysis According to the pilot, the propeller struck the asphalt runway when the aircraft landed. He detected a fire, and he and his passenger exited the right side of the aircraft. The airplane was then consumed by fire. After the fire was extinguished by airport fire and rescue personnel, a postaccident examination of the aircraft was performed by an FAA inspector and fire and rescue investigators. The landing gear handle was found in the UP position, as was each of the landing gear doors. Fireworks and several cigars were found in the aft cabin section. The majority of the fire occurred on the right side of the aircraft. According to the FAA inspector, the fire appeared to have started aft of the firewall. Due to the damage the aircraft sustained as a result of the fire, the exact source of the fire could not be determined. They were also unable to determine whether the fire was initiated prior to or subsequent to the aircraft's landing. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1999, at 1733 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210F, N6726R, was destroyed by fire after landing at Albuquerque International Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal cross-country flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Farmington, New Mexico, at 1630. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Immediately following the accident, the pilot was interviewed by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department. During the interview, the pilot stated that he made a "routine" landing on runway 03. As the aircraft touched down, the propeller struck the asphalt runway. He called the tower and advised them that he thought the nose gear had collapsed. As the aircraft skidded to a stop, he stated that he noticed a fire had started. He and his passenger exited the right side of the aircraft since fire was coming through the pilot's side of the cabin floor. They ran 30 to 40 feet away, and the entire airplane caught fire. When asked by the detective what he thought caused the actual fire, he stated that he thought the engine friction started it, and that the fire was first burning under the cowling, then came into the cabin. During the pilot's interview, he told the detective that he believed three things could have happened which resulted in the fire: 1. "The [landing] gear didn't lock down." He stated that he "didn't notice" if the gear light illuminated to indicate that the gear was down and locked. 2. He "forgot to put them [the landing gear] down." 3. There was "some other gear failure." After the fire was extinguished by airport fire and rescue personnel, a postaccident examination of the aircraft was performed by an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and investigators with the fire and rescue department. The landing gear handle was found in the UP position, as was each of the landing gear doors. Fireworks and several cigars were found in the aft cabin section and had sustained substantial burn damage at the time they were found. The majority of the fire occurred on the right side of the aircraft. According to the FAA inspector, the fire appeared to have started aft of the firewall. Due to the damage the aircraft sustained as a result of the fire, the exact source of the fire could not be determined. They were also unable to determine whether the fire was initiated prior to or subsequent to the aircraft's landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6726R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6726R-2002-05-16), registration cancelled 2002-05-16, S/N T210-0126, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210F - Registry model: [Cessna T210F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210f) (registry code 2073422) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T210-0126 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: George A. Harrison - Registered owner: N6726r Joint Venture - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1998 - Departed: FMN, FARMINGTON, NM - Destination: ABQ - Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque International, runway 3, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 720 total, 102 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ ## 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 19990723009679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990723009679A), Jul 23, 1999: Cessna T210F, Albuquerque, NM, Destroyed. On rollout the nose gear collapsed. A fuel line was severed and the aircraft caught fire. (.19)on July 23, 1999, at 1733 mountain daylight time, a Cessna… 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.