# NTSB LAX85LA306: Cessna 421A, N222CF, San Diego, CA, July 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1985, 21:10 local (Jul 4, 1985, 04:10 UTC)
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Coordinates: 32.550056, -117.039466 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5501&lon=-117.0395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24764
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA306
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24764/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA306

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - disconnected (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

DURING LANDING ROLL OUT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION. EXAM OF THE RT GEAR REVEALED THAT THE BOLT WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER & LOWER GEAR TORQUE LINKS WAS MISSING. AN EXAM OF THE LEFT GEAR ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE REQUIRED COTTER PIN, WHICH SECURES THE CORRESPONDING BOLT FOR THE LT GEAR, WAS MISSING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N222CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N222CF-2011-07-15), registration cancelled 2011-07-15, S/N 421A0015, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421A
- Registry model: [Cessna 421A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421a) (registry code 2076012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421A0015
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-D 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: David Tolle
- Registered owner: Galen L. Skeem/Robert D. Ford
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: RNO, RENO, NV
- Destination: SDM, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SDM, Brown Fld Muni, runway 26, 7,999 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; flight engineer, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,640 total, 13 in this make and model, 1,499 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Observed at: SDM

## 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 19850703037079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850703037079A), Jul 3, 1985: Cessna 421A, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. Right main gear collapsed on rollout. Found cotter pins were not installed in nut on torque links.

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.

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