Cessna 310Q accident near Roswell, New Mexico, April 11, 2008
On April 11, 2008 at about 11:47 pm local time, a Cessna 310Q, registered N7935Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Roswell, New Mexico (Roswell International Air Cent airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airframe and powerplant mechanic's incorrect reassembly of the landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2008 · about 11:47 pm local time
- Place
- Roswell, New Mexico · Roswell International Air Cent · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310Q · all 310Qs on the register
- Registration
- N7935Q · registry record · serial 310Q-0667
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot initiated a left turn while taxiing to the parking area, and the right main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's right wing and horizontal stabilizer. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did an on scene investigation, and determined that the landing gear was not properly reassembled after maintenance was performed. The certified airframe and powerplant mechanic left out a bushing on the right main landing gear side link lower attach point. The incorrect reassembly allowed the down-lock tension to fall below allowable limits during subsequent cycles of the landing gear system, resulting in the gear collapse.
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)
- Landing gear collapse during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 4,100 as pilot in command; 2,700 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,928 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Teledyne Continental IO-470-VO (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Teledyne Continental IO-470-VO (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Charter And Transport, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KHOB Hobbs NM at 11:10 pm
- Destination: KROW Roswell NM
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 35, 9,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 19 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from KROW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.