Cessna 210L incident near Sarasota, Florida, May 30, 2002
On May 30, 2002 at about 9:22 pm local time, a Cessna 210L, registered N7PJ, suffered minor damage in an incident near Sarasota, Florida (Sarasota Braden Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to follow the before landing checklist and confirm that the landing gear was extended.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2002 · about 9:22 pm local time
- Place
- Sarasota, Florida · Sarasota Braden Airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7PJ · registry record · serial 21060754
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, on downwind he put the landing gear handle into the down and locked position. He did not recall if he had a down and lock indication light. Upon touchdown, the landing gear retracted and the airplane collided with the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear was in the up and locked position, and that there were no mechanical discrepancies found. The Cessna 210, before landing checklist states in part that the landing gear should be extended and that the pilot should visually observe that the main gear is down and that the green indicator light is on. The registered owner and pilot were requested to complete a pilot/operator report but have not responded.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO 520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKV Brooksville FL at 8:30 pm
- Destination: SRQ Sarasota/Braden FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 7,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 8:38 pm from SRQ
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.