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

November 6, 2015 · Cessna P210 N · N731LT

Atlanta, GA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 6, 2015
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Atlanta, GA
Aircraft
Cessna P210 N (1979)
Tail Number
N731LT
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA16LA042

The private pilot reported that he was conducting an instrument flight rules cross-country flight and set up for an RNAV approach; however, he was subsequently cleared for an instrument landing system approach. He added that he continued to the airport, recalled lowering the landing gear, but because he was setting up for a different approach, he did not verify that the landing gear were down and locked. He added that the landing was normal but that, during the landing roll, he heard a "snap" and felt the airplane drop and veer left. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to rest with the nose landing gear (NLG) down and locked but with both main landing gear (MLG) collapsed. Postaccident examination revealed no damage to either MLG downlock hook assembly. Testing of the landing gear system revealed that it functioned normally during multiple gear cycles, including an emergency extension. A check of the landing gear warning horn revealed that it was mis-set about 0.3 inch higher than specified, which reduced timely warning that the gear were not down and locked. Given there was no damage to either MLG downlock hook assembly, it is likely that neither MLG were down and locked at touchdown because the pilot extended the landing gear late during the approach and did not verify that they were down and locked, which only allowed sufficient time for the NLG, which extends and locks first, to fully extend and lock before touchdown. If the landing gear warning horn had been properly set, it is likely the pilot would have been warned in time to either go around or to allow for complete gear extension before landing.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's delayed extension of the landing gear and his failure to ensure that the main landing gear (MLG) were down and locked before touchdown, which resulted in the collapse of both MLG. Contributing to the landing gear collapse was the mis-set landing gear warning horn, which prevented timely notification that the landing gear were not down and locked.

Full Narrative

On November 6, 2015, about 1710 eastern standard time, a Cessna P210N, N731LT, was substantially damaged while landing at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), Atlanta, Georgia. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to Horst Aviation, LLC, but operated by an individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the flight was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Smoketown Airport (S37), Smoketown, Pennsylvania, about 1330, and was destined for PDK.The pilot stated that he expected and was set up for an RNAV approach, but was cleared for the ILS approach to runway 21L. He continued inbound to PDK and upon reaching the final approach fix, he recalled lowering the landing gear, but because of the approach distraction he did not verify that the landing gear was down and locked. He continued the approach, and reported breaking out of the clouds at 2,000 feet. When the airplane was at 200 feet above ground level, he reduced power and did not hear any warning horn. He indicated the landing was normal and very smooth, and after rolling about 400 feet, he heard a "snap" and felt the airplane drop and veer to the left. The airplane rolled off the runway onto grass and came to rest with the nose landing gear down and locked but both main landing gear collapsed. The airplane was raised, and both main landing gear were extended for towing to the ramp. Following recovery of the airplane, examination of both main landing gear actuators revealed no evidence of leaks or hydraulic residue. A test gauge was plumbed into the aircraft's landing gear hydraulic system and held pressure (1,500+ psi) in the up and down position for more than 10 minutes. The airplane was placed on jacks and several fault-free gear cycles were performed including an emergency extension. The single landing gear down and locked light functioned normally, and left main landing gear down limit switch which felt, "a little sticky", was replaced. There was no report of any damage to either main landing gear downlock hook assembly. A check of the landing gear warning horn revealed it was set 0.3 inch above the flight idle gate, while it is specified to be set 0.6 inch above the flight idle gate. It was adjusted to the specified amount, and although a flight check of the landing gear warning system was not performed during a postaccident maintenance flight check, the repair facility reported it was performed by the owner on the first flight after completion of repairs and no discrepancy was reported. The airplane's landing gear was hydraulically controlled, and by design the nose landing gear extended aft while the main landing gears extended forward. A representative of the airplane manufacturer reported that during landing gear extension, the nose landing gear locked into place followed by the main landing gear. This was because the nose landing gear extended aft and was assisted by airloads, while the main landing gear extend forward against airloads. During retraction of the main landing gear, the wheel assembly drops about 12 inches below the position when fully extended. Fully locking down of the main landing gear actuator occurs with a downlock hook assembly installed on each main landing gear. The airplane's last annual inspection was completed on February 26, 2015. There were no reported discrepancies during cycling of the gear that was performed during the inspection. The airplane had accrued about 66 hours since the inspection was performed.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:10 EST
Nearest AirportDekalb-Peachtree (1nm)
Runway21L
Runway Length6001 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna P210 N
Tail NumberN731LT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-B17F/2 · Turboprop · 475

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 66 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 9000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.11 inHg
Observation Time22:22
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data