Cessna T210L accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, July 1, 2009
On July 1, 2009 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N2118S, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Santa Teresa, New Mexico (Dona Ana County 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the landing gear accumulator seal for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to confirm the status of the landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2009 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico · Dona Ana County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N2118S · registry record · serial 21061081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he lowered the landing gear handle on downwind to land and heard the gear cycle down. He told investigators that he could not recall if he saw green, gear down indicator lights. While in the landing flare he heard someone call "gear, gear" on the radio, but it was too late for him to go around. The left main gear collapsed on touchdown and the airplane exited the side of the runway, substantially damaging the horizontal stabilizer and elevator. No anomalies were found with the landing gear indicator lights during the post accident inspections. Following four additional gear malfunctions, the landing gear accumulator was found to leak, allowing air into the hydraulic system. The seals from the accumulator were not retained and the reason for the failure of the seals was not determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Hydraulic power system › Accumulator, main › Malfunction
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Malfunction
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 848 hours in all; 217 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,113 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Advanced Security Contractors INC
The flight
- Departed from: TA50 Cielo Dorado Es TX at 2:15 pm
- Destination: 5T6 Santa Teresa NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from ELP, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 CEN09LA417.