Cessna 310K accident near Ocala, Florida, March 18, 2009
On March 18, 2009 at about 5:21 pm local time, a Cessna 310K, registered N6901L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ocala, Florida (Ocala International 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 right main landing gear collapse as a result of the pilot's improper flare during a previous landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2009 · about 5:21 pm local time
- Place
- Ocala, Florida · Ocala International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310K · all 310Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6901L · no longer on the register · serial 310K0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a prior flight, the student pilot made a straight-in approach for landing. The pilot flared high, the airplane landed hard, and then bounced. The pilot then initiated a go-around and landed without incident. The pilot and flight instructor then departed en-route to their destination airport. The pilot noticed an unsafe landing gear light, and recycled the landing gear with negative results. Upon arrival at the destination airport he made two low passes. Although the green right main landing gear position light did not illuminate, ground personnel informed the pilot that all landing gear appeared to be extended. The pilot entered the traffic pattern and landed. The right main landing gear collapsed on landing roll out, substantially damaging the airplane. Examination of the right main landing gear revealed that the outboard push-pull tube was bent, consistent with a previous hard landing. When the bent push-pull tube was removed, a landing gear retraction test was successfully completed.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during takeoff
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,997 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 6,997 as pilot in command; 4,775 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 2, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 482 hours in all; 213 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 482 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 2, 2007
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,037 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 2008; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,240 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470V (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-470V (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X35 Dunnelloon FL at 4:45 pm
- Destination: OCF Ocala FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 7,463 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Observation at 5:35 pm from OCF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.