# NTSB LAX05LA198: Cessna 210, N9457T, Watsonville, CA, June 12, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 2005, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Watsonville, CA - Coordinates: 36.935554, -121.789718 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9356&lon=-121.7897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61714/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA198 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane landed gear up. The pilot reported that he put the gear handle in the down position as he was crossing over the field to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 20. At this time he noticed that the green landing gear annunciator light had illuminated. Due to the high level of traffic in the pattern, the pilot did not look into the mirrors to visually check if the landing gear had deployed successfully like he usually does. During the landing flare, the airplane's tail impacted the runway causing the airplane to bounce. The tail came down and impacted the runway again. Shortly thereafter, the entire airplane spun off the runway to the left onto the grass separating the taxiway and the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after the accident occurred. He stated that the main landing gear doors were closed, and the main gear was in the fully retracted position. The nose wheel had partially extended. The FAA inspector interviewed several witnesses who heard the airplane's engine increase in power just prior to the landing. According to the Cessna 210 Owners Manual, the landing gear and doors operate in a specific sequence. Once the pilot places the gear position handle out of the neutral position, the engine driven hydraulic pump begins to create hydraulic pressure and transfers it to the hydraulic actuators, which operate the landing gear doors and landing gear. When the gear position handle is placed in the down position, the hydraulic pump supplies pressure to the door's actuators first, allowing the doors to open. Then, the hydraulic pressure will switch to the landing gear actuators, and the gear will extend. Once the landing gear has completed the extension, the hydraulic pressure will switch back to the door's actuators, and the doors will close. When the doors have completely closed, the gear position handle will return to the neutral position, completing the process. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 2005, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210, N9457T, landed gear up at the Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI), Watsonville, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed the San Carlos Airport (SQL), San Carlos, California, about 1045. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that he put the gear position handle in the down position as he was crossing over the field to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 20. At this time he noticed that the green landing gear enunciator light had illuminated. Due to the high level of traffic in the pattern, the pilot did not look into the mirrors to visually check if the landing gear had deployed successfully like he usually does. During the landing flare, the airplane's tail impacted the runway causing the airplane to bounce. The tail came down and impacted the runway again. Shortly thereafter, the entire airplane spun off the runway to the left onto the grass separating the taxiway and the runway. The pilot stated that the main landing gear did not deploy. In a written statement, the pilot stated that the airplane was severely damaged. The prop bent, both of the wing tips bent, the elevator bent on both sides, the front wheel strut broke, the undercarriage was damaged, and the fuselage buckled. In a telephone conversation, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that he examined the airplane after the accident occurred. He stated that the main landing gear doors were closed, and the main gear was in the retracted position. The nose wheel had partially extended. In his interview, the FAA inspector stated that witnesses to the accident heard the airplane's engine increase in power just prior to the landing. According to the Cessna 210 Owners Manual, the landing gear and doors operate in a specific sequence. Once the pilot places the gear position handle out of the neutral position, the engine driven hydraulic pump begins to create hydraulic pressure and transfers it to the hydraulic actuators, which operate the landing gear doors and landing gear. When the gear position handle is placed in the down position, the hydraulic pump supplies pressure to the door's actuators first, allowing the doors to open. Then, the hydraulic pressure will switch to the landing gear actuators, and the gear will extend. Once the landing gear has completed the extension, the hydraulic pressure will switch back to the door's actuators, and the doors will close. When the doors have completely closed, the gear position handle will return to the neutral position, completing the process. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9457T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9457T-2007-01-22), registration cancelled 2007-01-22, S/N 57257, 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: 57257 - Airframe hours: 1790 - Engines: Continental IO-470 E 460 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Bonahoom - Registered owner: Robert Bonahoom - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2005, 20 hours before - Departed: SQL, SAN CARLOS, CA - Destination: WVI, WATSONVILLE, CA - Airport: KWVI, Watsonville Municipal Airport, runway 20, 4,501 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 750 total, 150 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KWVI 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.