Cessna 210 accident near Sullivan, Missouri, January 8, 2015
On January 8, 2015 at about 10:40 pm local time, a 1962 Cessna 210, registered N9565X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sullivan, Missouri (Sullivan Regional 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 loss of hydraulic fluid and subsequent pressure due to cracks in the right main landing gear (MLG) actuator, which resulted in the collapse of the MLG during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2015 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Sullivan, Missouri · Sullivan Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 B, built 1962 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N9565X · registry record · serial 21057865
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. The pilot reported that, after takeoff, he did not receive the cockpit annunciation indicating that the landing gear was retracted. An air traffic controller confirmed that the landing gear was not completely retracted, and the pilot proceeded to troubleshoot the issue without success. The pilot chose to fly to his home airport to land. Before landing, his mechanic communicated with him and stated that it appeared that the nose landing gear (NLG) was down, so the pilot chose to land on the runway. During the landing, the NLG remained extended; however, the main landing gear (MLG) collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. An examination of the landing gear system revealed that the right MLG actuator had cracked and leaked hydraulic fluid. Examination of the actuator revealed fatigue cracking that had initiated at the snap ring groove at the end of the actuator cylinder and then extended the length of the cylinder in ductile overload. No other anomalies with the landing gear system were noted.
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 takeoff
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,174.5 hours in all; 1,221 in this make and model; 1.6 in the last 90 days; 0.5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 12, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,998 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-470-S12B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KJEF Jefferson City MO at 10:00 pm
- Destination: KUUV Sullivan MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from KFYG, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.