Cessna T210N accident near Denver, Colorado, May 17, 2022
On May 17, 2022 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna T210N, registered N210SD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Denver, Colorado (Rocky Mountain Metro 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 main landing gear collapsed during landing for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2022 · about 10:00 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Rocky Mountain Metro Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N, built 1980 · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N210SD · registry record · serial 21064225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and his passenger were performing a local flight after the installation of a new GPS system. After flying for about 15 minutes, the pilot lowered the landing gear in preparation to land. The pilot observed the landing gear in an extended position via landing gear mirrors and confirmed a cockpit gear down light indication. After touchdown, the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded and came to rest upright on an adjacent taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. During the examination, 10 landing gear extensions and retractions were performed without any anomalies noted with the system. The cockpit landing gear light indications functioned during each gear cycle, and no leaks in the system were detected. The reason for the main landing gear collapse could not be 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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Malfunction other cases naming the landing gear
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 826 hours in all; 363 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 754 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 3, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,948 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 2022
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12L, 9,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:59 pm from KBJC, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBJC 172259Z 03015G20KT 10SM BKN080 24/01 A3000
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 7, 2023. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Airport Surveillance Video | AVI file | Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N210SD on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna T210 Turbo Centurion 1,280 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER 4,110 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Rocky Mountain Metro Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,486 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN22LA204.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.