Cessna P210 accident near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, September 16, 2016
On September 16, 2016 at about 3:05 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna P210, registered N224MH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Lancaster 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
A landing gear collapse during landing for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination and testing of the landing gear did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2016 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania · Lancaster · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210 N, built 1978 · all P210s on the register
- Registration
- N224MH · registry record · serial P21000089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight in a retractable landing gear airplane, the flight instructor and pilot under instruction performed multiple landings uneventfully. As the airplane entered the downwind traffic pattern, the pilot under instruction lowered the landing gear; both pilots confirmed that the landing gear was in the down and locked position. During landing, the airplane initially touched down in a 5-knot right crosswind and then momentarily lifted off; as it did so, the landing gear warning horn sounded. The flight instructor then took the controls and set the airplane down on the right main landing gear. As the airplane decelerated, the nosewheel touched down and a right yaw developed, the left wing settled onto the runway, and the airplane slid to a stop. The airframe incurred substantial damage during the landing. Postaccident examination and functional testing of the landing gear did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, although the testing was limited in scope due to damage incurred to the nose landing gear during the accident. Thus, the reason for the landing gear collapse 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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,790 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 4,760 as pilot in command; 4,335 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 2, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 140 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 110 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 23, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,772 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520P5B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ridge View Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: MQS Coatesville PA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: LNS Lancaster PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 6,933 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 3:09 pm from LNS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - Conversation with FAA Inspectors | 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.