Cessna 210L accident near Georgetown, South Carolina, August 30, 2002
On August 30, 2002 at about 1:25 pm local time, a Cessna 210L, registered N32W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, South Carolina (Georgetown County airport). It was a personal 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 failure of the landing gear to lock in the down position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2002 · about 1:25 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, South Carolina · Georgetown County · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N32W · no longer on the register · serial 21060468
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while on an instrument flight the airplane loss electrical power. The pilot decided to land at the nearest airport. During the final approach to land, the pilot attempted to extend the landing gear manually but was unsuccessful. The pilot continued the approach to land on runway 29. During the landing roll the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on the left side of the runway. Examination of the electrical system revealed that the alternator had failed. No other mechanical malfunctions were found with the airplane.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,017 hours in all; 588 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,017 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 5, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VAY South Jersey NJ at 12:50 pm
- Destination: SSI Brunswick GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from KMYR, 29 miles away
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.