# NTSB ERA21LA315: Cessna 210N, N52MM, Somerville, NJ, August 2, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 2, 2021, 08:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Somerville, NJ · on airport - Coordinates: 40.625981, -74.670032 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6260&lon=-74.6700&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103618 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103618/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103618 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA315 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear up landing and substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2073453), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2073453), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/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 210N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073453), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot departed on a short flight to a local airport. He said he made a straight in approach and conducted a before landing checklist. Upon landing, the pilot realized the landing gear was still retracted as the airplane settled onto the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane’s landing gear and gear warning horn by a mechanic found no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Though the pilot said he used the before-landing checklist, he failed to extend the landing gear and subsequently landed with the gear retracted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52MM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52MM), registered now, S/N 21064870 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210N - Registry model: [Cessna 210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210n) (registry code 2073453) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21064870 - Year built: 1984 - Airframe hours: 4979 - Engines: Continental IO-550-LGB 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Happy Sky LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 2021 - Departed: LOJ, Linden, NJ - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SMQ, Somerset, runway 08/26, 1,923 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,040.1 total, 60 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KSMQ - METAR: KSMQ 021253Z AUTO 31005KT 8SM CLR 20/16 A2994 ## 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 20210802012369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210802012369A), Aug 2, 2021: Cessna 210N, Somerville, NJ, Substantial damage. Pilot departed linden airport in linden,NJ (ldn), for Somerset Airport (smq), in Somerville, NJ. After the 10 minute flight the pilot made a straight in… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103618. 14.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 13.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12622618&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB summary of email - mechanic (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12623420&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Email%20-%20Mechanic-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 744 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12639743&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.