Cessna 401B accident near Naples, Florida, July 10, 2004
On July 10, 2004 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Cessna 401B, registered N7983Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Naples, Florida (Naples Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fracture of the right landing gear down lock stud which resulted in the right main landing gear collapse during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2004 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Naples, Florida · Naples Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401B · all 401Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7983Q · registry record · serial 0202
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing roll, a vibration was felt that simulated a "wheel shimmy condition". According to the pilot, as the airplane crossed the intersection of runway 14 and runway 23, the airplane became "light". As the pilot attempted to maintain control of the airplane, the right wing collided with the runway and the airplane slid to the right and came to a stop in the grass on the south side of the intersection of runway 14 and taxiway "A", about 2,650 feet from the approach end of runway 14. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed damaged to the propeller, a broken drag brace, the left flap bent upwards, damage to the underbelly of the fuselage, the right main gear collapsed and the right elevator tip scraped. Also, the right wing inboard was bent, right aileron was damaged and right flap and right wing rear spar was damaged. Further examination of the right landing gear assembly revealed that the down lock adjustment stud was broken. According to a mechanic, the visual examination of the stud fracture face disclosed that approximately 3/4 of the fracture face appeared to be old, and 1/4 of the fracture face appeared to be a fresh fracture. The maintenance history of the down lock adjustment stud was not determined nor were subsequent efforts to secure the fractured stud for further examinations successful.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 607 hours in all; 31 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 7, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,393 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,312 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 19, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,320.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2003; 31.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,210 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO 520E (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Parrott Air, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: EYW Key West FL at 12:50 pm
- Destination: APF Naples FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KAPF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL04LA148.