Beech C90 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, June 3, 2010
On June 3, 2010 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Beech C90, registered N20, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Fort Worth, Texas (Fort Worth Alliance airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the nose gear actuator due to insufficient lubrication of the nut assembly threads.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2010 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Fort Worth Alliance · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C90 · all C90s on the register
- Registration
- N20 · no longer on the register · serial LJ-912
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the landing gear was extended, the flightcrew heard a loud "bang" and observed a “Gear Unsafe” indication. After making a low pass, tower personnel reported that the main gear appeared to be down but that the nose gear was only partially extended. The certificated flight instructor raised the landing gear and made another low pass. Tower personnel said the main gear was up, but the nose gear was still only partially extended. The flightcrew elected to return to their home base and land. As speed dissipated, the nose gear folded and the airplane slid to a stop. A postaccident examination revealed that the nose gear actuator had failed due to insufficient lubrication of the nut assembly threads. The manufacturer recommends that the actuator be overhauled or replaced every 8000 cycles, or 6 years, whichever occurs first. At this time, the screw and nut assembly is to be greased. The failed actuator had accrued 1,576 cycles and 951.2 hours time-in-service. The maintenance manual does not require in-service lubrication of landing gear actuator.
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 maneuvering
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Grease › Fluid level
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,490 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 15,138 as pilot in command; 5,172 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 15, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
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: 17,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 17,200 as pilot in command; 16,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 14, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,204 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 1, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 9,650 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-21 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Federal Aviation Administration (Asw-280)
The flight
- Departed from: AFW Fort Worth TX at 4:30 pm
- Destination: AFW Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34L, 8,220 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 7:40 pm from AFW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N20 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.