- Date
- June 9, 1985, 15:02 local (20:02 UTC)
- Place
- Midland, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6778XCessna 310F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850609023579A
- Case key
- 21769
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
On takeoff, the plt heard a loud bang when he cycled the gear up and he got a gear unsafe light. Personnel on the ground advised him that the nose gear was hanging down at a 45 degree angle, but the mains were up. The plt diverted to a nearby arpt that had better emergency equipment. On final, the plt shut down both engs to minimize damage. He subsequently landed short and sheared the main gear when the acft started sliding sideways. The reason for the gear failure was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6778X
- Reported as
- Cessna 310F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3100078
- Airframe hours
- 5,165
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-D, 360 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John W. Ezell
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 7, 1985 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- E11 · Andrews, TX
- Destination
- 9X52 · Houston, TX
- Airport
- MAF · Midland Reg, runway 16L, 4,245 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,230 total · 136 in this make and model · 1,752 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 95 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MAF
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N6778X · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.