Cessna 320 accident near Mccarthy, Alaska, May 30, 2003
On May 30, 2003 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 320, registered N5712X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mccarthy, Alaska (Mccarthy airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The collapse of the left main landing gear during the landing roll for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2003 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Mccarthy, Alaska · Mccarthy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320 · all 320s on the register
- Registration
- N5712X · no longer on the register · serial 0012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot, holder of an aviation mechanic certificate, was landing at a remote airport on a cross-country business flight. He said that during the landing roll, the left main landing gear suddenly collapsed. The pilot indicated that the airplane is equipped with one landing gear position light. He said prior to landing, he observed the right main landing gear and the nose gear position via a mirror positioned on the right engine nacelle. They appeared to be extended, and the landing gear position light was indicating green. The airplane received damage to the left flap, and the underside of the fuselage. The pilot indicated the landing gear drive mechanism consists of an actuator rod, driven by an electric motor. He noted that the main landing gear had been subjected to side loads during the flight just prior to accident flight, and either the left main landing gear actuator rod, or associated support structure, may have been damaged. As of July 2004, he had not had an opportunity to thoroughly inspect the landing gear system to determine why the landing gear collapsed.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 450 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 11, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,173 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 2003; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,990 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-470B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAMR Anchorage AK at 8:50 pm
- Destination: 15Z Mccarthy AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.