Cessna T210M accident near Dalton, Georgia, August 22, 2009
On August 22, 2009 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N732MM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Dalton, Georgia (Dalton Municipal Airport). It was a personal 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 right main landing gear actuator downlock spring.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2009 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Dalton, Georgia · Dalton Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N732MM · no longer on the register · serial 21061620
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In preparation for landing, the pilot lowered the landing gear and noticed the right landing gear light was not illuminated. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to lower the landing gear, he manually extended it and it appeared down and locked. The pilot then confirmed with ground personnel that all three landing gear appeared to be extended. During touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane swerved to the right and traveled off the side of the runway. Examination of the landing gear system revealed the right main landing gear downlock actuator spring was distorted.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,864 hours in all; 887 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 887 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 15, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,382 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Star Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: DNN Dalton GA at 3:20 pm
- Destination: DNN Dalton GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,603 ft by 98 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from DNN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.