# NTSB ERA26LA113: Cessna 320C, N3034T, Bartow, FL, February 9, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 9, 2026, 16:21 local (21:21 UTC) - Place: Bartow, FL · On Runway 27R - Coordinates: 27.944956, -81.783103 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9450&lon=-81.7831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 15, 2026 - 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): 202433 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202433/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202433 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA113 ## Probable cause Maintenance personnel’s failure to perform an adequate inspection of the airplane’s landing gear, which resulted in a collapse of the left main landing gear during landing. ## 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 · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 320C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2074510), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Inspection: scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 320C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md?model=2074510), [All aircraft, 167 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 320C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2074510), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 320C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2074510), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Cessna 320C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2074510), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a post-maintenance flight following the completion of an annual inspection, the pilot/ mechanic reported that the preflight inspection, engine run-up, and landing gear retraction after takeoff revealed no anomalies. While on approach to land, the pilot selected the landing gear down and observed that the gear down indicator light did not illuminate. He cycled the landing gear and subsequently performed a low approach; air traffic control personnel reported that the landing gear appeared to be extended. The pilot remained in the traffic pattern and attempted a manual gear extension, but the indication anomaly persisted. He again cycled the landing gear and verified circuit breaker continuity with no change noted. After a second low approach, the pilot elected to land. During the landing roll, as the airplane decelerated and the pilot initiated a right turn to exit the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane’s left wing and left horizontal stabilizer contacted the runway surface, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot/mechanic stated that during the annual inspection, there were no adjustments made to the landing gear rigging and the gear was cycled several times with no anomalies noted. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main gear intermediate push-pull tube was deformed, and the side brace lock link was misrigged. The left hydraulic brake hose was misrouted and not clamped in position. Both main gear side brace lock link springs were corroded and the right main gear downlock tension was below the manufacture’s minimum limits. According to the airplane’s maintenance manual, the landing gear operational and rigging checks are to be performed every 12 months or 100 hours. Based on this information, the inspection of the landing gear that was completed by the maintenance personnel likely was not sufficient to detect and correct these discrepancies before they resulted in the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3034T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3034T), registered now, S/N 320C0034 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 320C - Registry model: [Cessna 320C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320c) (registry code 2074510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSI0-470-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsi0-470-b) (registry code 17029, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 320C0034 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 3429.6 - Engines: Continental TSIO-470-D 260 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-470-D 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Velez Investments LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 2026, 0.6 hours before - Airport: BOW, Bartow Executive Airport, runway 27R, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: BOW - METAR: METAR KBOW 092120Z AUTO 31005KT 10SM CLR 25/02 A3020 RMK AO2 PWINO ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202433. 46.0 MB in all. - Memorandum for record - pilot/operator aircraft accident report solicitation (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20590908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%206120%201%20Form%20Request%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement to FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20591500&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe logbook entry (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 38.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20590918&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20Logbook%20Entry_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance manual excerpts (item 4, PDF, 13 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20590244&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Manual%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20591817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record- landing gear examination summary (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20591827&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20Gear%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20591560&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form%20Signed_Redacted-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.