Cessna 210 accident near Venice, Florida, January 18, 2016
On January 18, 2016 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 210, registered N761EP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Venice, Florida (Venice Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot's failure to properly configure the landing gear, which resulted in a landing with the landing gear in the retracted position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2016 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Venice, Florida · Venice Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 M, built 1977 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N761EP · registry record · serial 21062200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while entering the airport traffic pattern for landing, he was distracted by approximately eight other airplanes already in the traffic pattern. He subsequently forgot to extend the landing gear and landed with the gear retracted. The airplane came to rest upright on the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the lower fuselage, which included the keel and bulkhead. The inspector added that when the landing gear selector handle was moved to the extend position, the landing gear extended normally. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.
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 not configured during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,349 hours in all; 4,582 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 5,349 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 3, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,522 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2015; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 993 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGD Punta Gorda FL at 8:20 pm
- Destination: VNC Venice FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from VNC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 29, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.