Cessna 310R accident near Lexington, Kentucky, December 15, 2022
On December 15, 2022 at about 7:20 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 310R, registered N3844C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Lexington, Kentucky (Blue Grass 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
A main landing gear collapse due to a landing gear actuator overtravel for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 2022 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lexington, Kentucky · Blue Grass · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R, built 1977 · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N3844C · registry record · serial 310R1238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot stated that when he configured the airplane for landing, only the green nose landing gear position light illuminated. After performing a missed approach, the pilot attempted to manually lower the gear, but felt the system was “not engaging correctly” and continued to turn the manual gear extension handle until it would no longer turn. When the airplane was on final approach, the tower controllers advised that the landing gear “appeared down.” The pilot stated that the landing gear warning horn did not activate. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed, followed by the “folding” of the right main landing gear. Initial examination of the airplane revealed only minor damage, but a subsequent more comprehensive examination revealed substantial damage to the wing spar carry-through structure. Upon recovery, the nose landing gear was found down and locked. The landing gear doors were partially open, consistent with a transition phase between the retracted and extended position. Examination of the main landing gear revealed that the landing gear actuator upper bellcrank 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 main landing gear was released from its down-and-locked position, which allowed it to partially retract before landing. The reason for the overtravel of the gear actuator could not be determined based on the available information.
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 defining event
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 19,450 hours in all; 92.4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,198 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2022; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-520-MB1 (piston); 1,015 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-520-MB1 (piston); 1,408 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 66TE Granbury TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 7,004 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 2:06 pm from KLEX
Weather report (METAR): SPECI KLEX 152006Z 23011KT 10SM BKN030 BKN036 09/02 A2971 RMK AO2 T00890022 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 3, 2024. 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's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's and Aircraft Information | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records Annual Inspection | PDF, 19 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Landing Gear System Examination (Thoroughbred Aviation) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N3844C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.