Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI91LA076

MIDDLETON, WI, USA

Aircraft #1

N4112T

CESSNA 320

Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TAKEOFF HE FAILED TO GET A GEAR UP AND LOCKED INDICATION. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO LOWER THE GEAR, HE ELECTED TO RETURN FOR LANDING. A FLY-BY WAS EXECUTED FOR VERIFICATION OF A GEAR DOWN EXTENSION. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT. THE NOSE GEAR REMAINED EXTENDED. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO A SNOW BANK AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REVEAL A MECHANICAL CAUSE OF THE GEAR MALFUNCTION. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT ZERO F. AND HAD BEEN AS LOW AS 10 DEGREES BELOW PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO GEAR RETRACTION MALFUNCTION.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING LANDING ROLLOUT DUE TO EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A SNOWBANK ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports