Cessna 320E accident near Elkhart, Indiana, January 10, 1991
On January 10, 1991 at about 10:16 pm local time, a Cessna 320E, registered N4695X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elkhart, Indiana (Elkhart Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A FRACTURED LANDING GEAR RETRACTION ASSEMBLY COMPONENT AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 1991 · about 10:16 pm local time
- Place
- Elkhart, Indiana · Elkhart Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320E · all 320Es on the register
- Registration
- N4695X · no longer on the register · serial 320E-0067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PILOT EXPERIENCED A HUNG NOSE GEAR ON RETRACTION AFTER TAKEOFF. NORMAL AND MANUAL ATTEMPTS TO EXTEND THE NOSE GEAR FAILED. WHILE CYCLING THE GEAR, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED POWER LOSS TWICE ON THE LEFT ENGINE, AND THE RIGHT ENGINE HESITATED ONCE. ADJUSTMENT OF THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLES RECOVERED THE ENGINES. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO FINAL APPROACH CONFIGURED FOR LANDING WITH DEFECTIVE GEAR, WITH FULL FLAPS AND MAIN GEAR DOWN. THE PILOT RECOUNTED HE HAD NO POWER RESPONSE FROM EITHER ENGINE BELOW 400 FEET ON FINAL. HE INCREASED HIS DESCENT ANGLE TO MAINTAIN 100 MPH BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT SPEED TO FLARE FOR TOUCHDOWN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED THE CAM ROLLER WHICH CENTERS THE NOSE WHEEL ON RETRACTION HAD FRACTURED, AND THE NOSE GEAR DRIVE TUBE BUCKLED AND FRACTURED WHERE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLES ATTACH TO CABLES TO SELECTOR VALVES.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 293 hours in all; 146 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 188 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,505 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1990; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TS10-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 3C1 IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:20 pm from EKM, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.