Cessna P210N accident near Waco, Texas, August 5, 2016
On August 5, 2016 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna P210N, registered N323DC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Waco, Texas (Waco Regional 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the right main landing gear (MLG) down-lock mechanism, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear. The root cause of the right MLG down-lock mechanism could not be determined because the components were not available for examination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2016 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Waco, Texas · Waco Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N, built 1979 · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N323DC · registry record · serial P21000384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot reported that the electrical system began to indicate a discharge condition during cruise flight and that he chose to divert to an intermediate airport. He lowered the wing flaps and landing gear, and then the airplane lost total electrical power. Landing gear extension seemed to be normal, which included a green down position indicator light and visual verification of the landing gear in the extended position. The pilot then conducted a visual approach to landing, and after landing, the right main landing gear (MLG) collapsed, which resulted in a runway excursion. A postaccident examination of the electrical system revealed that the alternator was not functioning properly and that the voltage regulator was inoperative, which precipitated the diverted landing. Examination of the landing gear system revealed that the right MLG down-lock mechanism had failed. None of the components were provided to the National Transportation Safety Board for further examination, which precluded a determination of the root cause of the failure of the right MLG down-lock mechanism.
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
- Electrical system malf/failure during enroute (cruise)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › DC generator › alternator › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › DC regulator › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 12,108 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 2,860 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 25, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 2015; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-520-P5 (piston); 687 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDFW Dallas-Ft Worth TX at 9:30 pm
- Destination: KAUS Austin TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 7,107 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from KACT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.