Cessna 310R accident near Kansas City, Missouri, March 22, 2018
On March 22, 2018 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 310R, registered N372WP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Kansas City, Missouri (Downtown Air airport). It was a personal 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 landing gear collapse due to the separation of the end fitting bolt for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 2018 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kansas City, Missouri · Downtown Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R, built 1977 · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N372WP · no longer on the register · serial 310R0904
- 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 landing gear position lights were all green during the approach and that the landing was normal. During the landing rollout, the right landing gear collapsed. A witness stated that the landing appeared normal and was not a hard landing. The airplane skidded for about 1,200 to 1,500 ft and veered off the side of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Examination of the airplane's landing gear parts that were broken revealed that the fracture features of the end fitting assembly mating adjustment screw, the bellcrank assembly bolt, and the flange were consistent with overstress. Examination of the fracture surfaces of the end fitting bolt revealed that it had separated through a thread root on the end of the bolt; however, the cause of the end fitting bolt separation could not be determined due to smearing and secondary damage of the fracture surface. Because the witness reported that the landing was not a hard landing, it is unlikely that the failure occurred during the accident landing sequence. It is likely that the separation of the end fitting bolt led to the landing gear collapse.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,987 hours in all; 1,890 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,362 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,501 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-520-MB (piston); 2,400 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-520-MB (piston); 2,450 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DTN Shreveport LA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: MKC Kansas City MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 6,827 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from MKC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 5, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | C-310 Landing Gear Illustration | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.