Cessna 310P accident near Kennett, Missouri, September 14, 2006
On September 14, 2006 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 310P, registered N5858M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kennett, Missouri (Kennett Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Separation of the left main landing gear torque link during landing resulting in a loss of control and runway excursion. Contributing factors were a failure to comply with the airframe manufacturer's service bulletin, and the pilot's inability to maintain directional control after the torque link separation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2006 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kennett, Missouri · Kennett Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310P · all 310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5858M · no longer on the register · serial 310P0158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when the left main landing gear torque links separated during landing. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway and came to rest approximately 1,250 feet from the approach end. A skid mark began about 400 feet from the end of the runway. The mark was left of the runway centerline and began as a straight skid mark. It then transitioned to a weaving or wavy pattern. The wavy pattern was approximately 60 feet long. Examination of the airframe revealed that the left main landing gear torque links had separated at the center hinge point and the wheel assembly was rotated 180 degrees. The washers installed under the bolt head at the pivot hinge did not conform to the washers specified by the airframe manufacturer's maintenance manual and service bulletin. The installed washer outside diameter measured approximately 0.560 inch. The through hole in the torque links measured 0.562 inch. Washers with an outside diameter of 0.750 inch were specified. The undersized washers allowed the bolt and bushing stack-up to pull through the upper torque link. The lower landing gear strut and wheel assembly were then free to rotate out of alignment with the upper strut. Review of the aircraft maintenance records revealed that new torque link shafts and bearings were installed on the left main landing gear assembly in August 2000, at 3,060 hours total airframe time. The most recent annual inspection was completed on February 14, 2006, at 3,316 hours total airframe time. An entry noting compliance with the service bulletin was not observed in the maintenance log.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,500 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 113 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,317 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EHO Shelby NC at 4:00 pm
- Destination: TKX Kennett MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from HKA, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.