# NTSB FTW97LA239: Cessna 210, N9417T, Peyton, CO, June 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 1997, 19:44 local (Jun 27, 1997, 01:44 UTC) - Place: Peyton, CO - Coordinates: 39.030876, -104.480133 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0309&lon=-104.4801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20257 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20257/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA239 ## Probable cause Failure of both pilots to assure the landing gear was down and locked. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - gear extension - performed, dual student - gear down and locked - not verified, flightcrew (cause) ## Analysis The Instructor said that while on the downwind leg, both he and the pilot confirmed that the landing gear was down and locked by noting that the indicator light was illuminated, the landing gear control had automatically returned to the neutral position, observing the extended main gear and seeing the extended nose gear through mirrors, and noting the gear warning horn did not sound as the throttle was retarded. The main landing gear collapsed when the airplane touched down. The operator said that when he examined the airplane, the landing gear control was in the down position (it should be in the neutral position), and the gear safe light was not illuminated. When the airplane was lifted, the gear fell freely, locked in place, and the gear safe light illuminated. The pilot said the airplane had been involved in five previous gear up mishaps. The operator said it had been involved in only two landing gear mishaps. An unannounced inspection of the operator's maintenance facility by FAA revealed all records were in order and procedures were being followed according to applicable federal regulations. Examination of the landing gear revealed it had been properly rigged. When the airplane was placed on jacks, functional testing revealed no landing gear anomalies. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 1997, at 1944 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 210, N9417T, registered to Arrow Aviation, Inc., d/b/a MedArrow, was substantially damaged when the main landing gear collapsed during landing at Peyton, Colorado. The commercial rated flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Colorado Springs, Colorado, approximately 1820. According to the flight instructor, the private pilot was receiving a biennial flight review (BFR) and an aircraft rental checkout. After performing maneuvers in the local practice area, they proceeded to Meadowlake Airport to perform touch and go landings. The private pilot's first landing attempt was aborted and he executed a go around. On the downwind leg, both pilots went through the GUMPs (Gas, Undercarriage, Mixture, Prop) check list, and the landing gear was extended. Looking outside, both pilots confirmed the landing gear was extended, it was visible in the mirrors, the landing gear control had returned to the neutral position, and the green (gear down and locked) light illuminated. When the airplane was turned onto final approach, both pilots again confirmed the landing gear was down and locked. The airplane landed with the nose gear extended and the main landing gear down but unlocked. The empennage dragged along the runway, damaging both horizontal stabilizers and elevators. As the airplane slowed, it veered left and the right horizontal stabilizer struck a taxiway sign. A mechanic at the airport witnessed the accident and said the main landing gear was trailing as the airplane made its landing approach. The instructor said N9417T had "a long history of (landing) gear problems ranging from accidents where the pilot failed to extend the landing gear, to occurrences where the pilot had visually confirmed the landing gear in the down and locked position prior to touchdown and the main gear failed to remain down and locked." He said there had been "a total of five gear related incidents" with the airplane, the latest occurring in February 1997. According to the operator, he went to the accident site and examined the airplane. In a written statement, he said he found the landing gear control in the down position and not in the neutral position. When the master switch was turned on, the gear safe light did not illuminate. When the airplane was lifted, the main landing gear dropped freely and locked in the down position. The gear safe light then illuminated. The operator also disputed the pilot's claim that the airplane had been involved in five previous landing gear incidents. He said there had been only two prior accidents. According to the CESSNA 210 OWNER'S HANDBOOK, the procedure for lowering the landing gear is for the pilot to pull the landing gear control out and over a "gate" to the down position. The system incorporates positive mechanical up and down locks operated by separate hydraulic actuators, and limit switches wired in series so that all three gears must be down and locked before the indicator light illuminates. If the landing gear is not down and locked and the throttle is retarded (as in a landing approach), a gear unsafe warning horn will sound. The instructor said the horn never sounded. FAA's principal maintenance inspector for Arrow Aviation conducted an unannounced inspection of the company's maintenance facility following this accident. He reported all records were in order and procedures were being followed according to applicable regulations. Examination of N9417T revealed the landing gear had been properly rigged. The operator reported that when the airplane was placed on jacks, functional testing of the landing gear disclosed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9417T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9417T-2023-09-16), registration cancelled 2023-09-16, S/N 57217, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210 - Registry model: [Cessna 210](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210) (registry code 2073402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 57217 - Airframe hours: 3581 - Engines: Continental IO-470-E 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arrow Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 3, 1997, 50 hours before - Departed: COS, COLORADO SPRGS, CO - Destination: 00V - Airport: 00V, Meadowlake Airport, runway 15, 6,000 × 60 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,016 total, 123 in this make and model, 1,835 as pilot in command, 267 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: COS, 11 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 19970627016309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970627016309A), Jun 27, 1997: Cessna 210, Peyton, CO, Substantial damage. (.19) See NTSB #FTW97LA239 ## Other investigations on N9417T (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN76FTE64](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76FTE64), May 1, 1976: Cessna 210 (N9417T), Loveland, CO, substantial damage 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.