# NTSB GAA18CA115: Cessna 210, N884KM, Sussex, NJ, January 21, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 21, 2018, 02:30 local (07:30 UTC) - Place: Sussex, NJ - Coordinates: 40.298645, -74.520141 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2986&lon=-74.5201&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96642 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96642/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96642 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA115 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadvertent landing gear retraction during approach. ## 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 · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 210D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Cessna 210D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the retractable-landing-gear-equipped airplane reported that, during approach, the green landing gear extended light was illuminated. He further reported that "it [was] possible that [he] inadvertently cycled the landing gear back to a gear up position." The airplane landed gear up and was destroyed by postaccident fire. During a telephone interview with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot reported that the landing gear handle and the trim wheel were next to each other, and it is probable that, when operating the trim wheel, he moved the landing gear handle. He added that that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, during approach the green landing gear extended light was illuminated. He further reported that "it [was] possible that [he] inadvertently cycled the landing gear back to a gear up position". The airplane landed gear up and was destroyed by a postaccident fire. During a telephone interview with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot reported that the landing gear handle and the trim wheel were next to each other and it is probable that when operating the trim wheel, he moved the landing gear handle. He added that that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A friend of the pilot reported that the pilot used a LightSpeed Zulu headset with ANR (active noise reduction). The manufacturer published a service manual for Cessna 210s from 1960-1965. In the service manual, it stated: "Current production 210 models have incorporated a stall and gear warning unit which has two horns built into the unit, thereby eliminating the need of a speaker." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N884KM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N884KM-2021-04-05), registration cancelled 2021-04-05, S/N 21058503, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210 (D) - Registry model: [Cessna 210D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210d) (registry code 2073414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21058503 - Year built: 1964 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520-A32D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MPO, MOUNT POCONO, PA - Destination: FWN, SUSSEX, NJ - Airport: FWN, Sussex, runway 03, 3,499 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 24, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 150 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KFWN ## 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 20180121001059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180121001059A), Jan 21, 2018: Cessna 210D, Sussex, NJ, Substantial damage. 24 Days after receiving his private pilot certificate, the pilot[privacy data omitted] conducted a personal flight from mpo to his home base at fwn, at… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96642. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461329&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461330&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Friend (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Friend-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 4, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Excerpt from Service Manual - Stall and Gear Warning Unit (item 5, .PDF, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461344&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20Service%20Manual%20-%20Stall%20and%20Gear%20Warning%20Unit-Master.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.