Cessna 310L accident near Linden, New Jersey, July 23, 2016
On July 23, 2016 at about 5:25 pm local time, a 1967 Cessna 310L, registered N3261X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Linden, New Jersey (Linden 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 overtravel of the main landing gear (MLG) actuator, which resulted in the MLG partially collapsing upon landing. The reasons for the overtravel of the MLG actuator could not be determined due to the unavailability of the wreckage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2016 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, New Jersey · Linden · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310L L, built 1967 · all 310Ls on the register
- Registration
- N3261X · no longer on the register · serial 310L-0111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot stated that, following a flight in which he was performing a functional check on all systems, when he configured the airplane for landing, he saw three green landing gear lights, visually confirmed that the nose landing gear was down, and then completed the approach for landing. The pilot reported that, at touchdown, he heard a "noise," and the copilot reported hearing a "bang" before the airplane's tail dropped to the runway. During the landing rollout, the copilot attempted to "feather the engines" but was only able to feather the right propeller. The airplane then departed the right side of the runway and settled in grass. Upon recovery, the nose landing gear were found down and locked, but the main landing gear (MLG) were partially collapsed and would not lock when the airplane was lifted and the gear moved by hand. Examination of the MLG revealed that the landing gear actuator had been driven beyond the down limit switch and that its travel was stopped by the internal stop pin in the actuator. When the landing gear actuator was driven beyond the down limit and toward the internal stop pin, the MLG was released from its down-and-locked position, which allowed it to partially retract before landing. The wreckage was disposed of before a more detailed examination could be performed, and the reason for the overtravel of the MLG actuator could not be determined.
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) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,660 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,672.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 5,203 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ Linden NJ at 5:00 pm
- Destination: LDJ Linden NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,140 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from LDJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on January 31, 2019. 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 | Memo for Record - Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement (Copilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 6 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.