Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

February 16, 2004 · Cessna 210E · N4974U

Pittsburgh, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 16, 2004
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Aircraft
Cessna 210E
Tail Number
N4974U
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
IAD04LA011

Prior to a landing, the left main landing gear would not extend into a down and locked position. The pilot, who was also the airplane's owner and mechanic, landed with the right main and nose landing gear in the down and locked position, and the left main landing gear "hanging." Upon landing, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway. A post-accident examination revealed that the left main landing gear saddle was fractured. The landing gear saddle was the subject of an Airworthiness Directive that first required its replacement, and after 1,200 hours of service on the new part, annual dye-penetrant inspections. A review of the airframe logbook revealed that the saddle was replaced, and that annual inspections should have begun in 1986; however, there were no records that they had ever been performed. Laboratory examination of the saddle fracture revealed features consistent with fatigue, and there was a lack of dye penetrant on the part.

NTSB Probable Cause

The owner/pilot-mechanic's failure to comply with an airworthiness directive, which resulted in a fatigue fracture to the left main landing gear saddle.

Full Narrative

On February 16, 2004, at 1426 eastern standard time, a Cessna 210E, N4974U, was substantially damaged while landing at Allegheny County Airport (AGC), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, who was also the airplane's owner and mechanic, the left main landing gear would not extend into a down and locked position. The pilot decided to land with the right main and nose landing gear in the down and locked position, and the left main landing gear "hanging." Upon touchdown, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, a post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear saddle was fractured. The landing gear saddle was the subject of an Airworthiness Directive (AD), AD 76-14-07 R2. The AD required replacement of the landing gear saddle, and after 1,200 hours of service on the new part, annual dye penetrant inspections. The FAA inspector's review of the airframe logbook revealed that the part was replaced in 1976, and was due for its first dye penetrant inspection in 1986. There were no records in the logbook to indicate that an annual inspection of the part had ever been performed. The landing gear saddle was submitted to the Safety Board Materials Laboratory for examination. According to the engineer's factual report, the saddle fracture surfaces exhibited features consistent with fatigue. There was also no visual evidence of any dye penetrant on the part.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:26 EST
Nearest AirportAllegheny County Airport (0nm N)
Runway31
Runway Length3825 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210E
Tail NumberN4974U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-520-A · Reciprocating · 285
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 77 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point27 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.44 inHg
Observation Time18:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data