Cessna 310R accident near Cahokia, Illinois, June 27, 1998
On June 27, 1998 at about 3:06 pm local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N4249C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cahokia, Illinois (St. Louis Downtown-Parks 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 collapse of the left main landing gear during landing roll for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1998 · about 3:06 pm local time
- Place
- Cahokia, Illinois · St. Louis Downtown-Parks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4249C · no longer on the register · serial 1380
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted the runway following the collapse of the left main landing gear and subsequent loss of control, during landing rollout. A metallurgical analysis of the spring down lock adjustment screw was performed. The chemical composition of the adjustment screw conformed to the requirements of MIL-S-6758. The hardness of the adjusting screw was found to be 29-30 HRC and in compliance with MIL-S-6758 for 4130 steel. The adjusting screw fracture exhibited characteristics of overload with no indications of fatigue or corrosion crack. The pilot's operating handbook specifies the maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity to be 19 knots at a landing weight of 5400 lbs. at sea level conditions on a standard day. The 1006 CDT ASOS observation indicates wind velocity to be 210 at 8 knots with no gusts. The empty weight of the aircraft was 3816 lbs. Fuel quantity was reported to be 200 gallons. A review of maintenance records showed that the landing gear had been inspected during a phase two progressive inspection in accordance with the Cessna Aircraft's 310 Service Manual Inspection Checklist. There were no entries in the remarks section of the checklist pertaining to the landing gear. The inspection was completed on April 25, 1998. The time since last inspection was 47 hours.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,534 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,368 as pilot in command; 1,208 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,567 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 24, 1998; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,535 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-MB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12R, 6,997 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:06 pm from CPS
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.
Other NTSB records under N4249C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.