Cessna T303 accident near Romeo, Michigan, January 6, 1989
On January 6, 1989 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna T303, registered N9890C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Romeo, Michigan (Romeo airport). It was an instructional 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 FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY DUE TO STRESS CORROSION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 1989 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Romeo, Michigan · Romeo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T303 · all T303s on the register
- Registration
- N9890C · registry record · serial T30300229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS STATED THAT THE EN ROUTE FLIGHT AND APPROACH TO LANDING WERE ROUTINE. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AS THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND, THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED DUE TO STRESS CORROSION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD 495 HOURS TOTAL TIME, WITH 45 HOURS SINCE THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION, WHICH OCCURRED IN JUNE 1988.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,266 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,011 as pilot in command; 1,917 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 495 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1988; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,150 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AZO Kalamazoo MI at 10:15 pm
- Destination: D98 Romeo MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 4,170 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.