Cessna 320C accident near Bartow, Florida, February 9, 2026
On February 9, 2026 at about 9:21 pm local time, a 1965 Cessna 320C, registered N3034T, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Bartow, Florida (Bartow Executive Airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s failure to perform an adequate inspection of the airplane’s landing gear, which resulted in a collapse of the left main landing gear during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2026 · about 9:21 pm local time
- Place
- Bartow, Florida · Bartow Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320C, built 1965 · all 320Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3034T · registry record · serial 320C0034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a post-maintenance flight following the completion of an annual inspection, the pilot/ mechanic reported that the preflight inspection, engine run-up, and landing gear retraction after takeoff revealed no anomalies. While on approach to land, the pilot selected the landing gear down and observed that the gear down indicator light did not illuminate. He cycled the landing gear and subsequently performed a low approach; air traffic control personnel reported that the landing gear appeared to be extended. The pilot remained in the traffic pattern and attempted a manual gear extension, but the indication anomaly persisted. He again cycled the landing gear and verified circuit breaker continuity with no change noted. After a second low approach, the pilot elected to land. During the landing roll, as the airplane decelerated and the pilot initiated a right turn to exit the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane’s left wing and left horizontal stabilizer contacted the runway surface, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot/mechanic stated that during the annual inspection, there were no adjustments made to the landing gear rigging and the gear was cycled several times with no anomalies noted. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main gear intermediate push-pull tube was deformed, and the side brace lock link was misrigged. The left hydraulic brake hose was misrouted and not clamped in position. Both main gear side brace lock link springs were corroded and the right main gear downlock tension was below the manufacture’s minimum limits. According to the airplane’s maintenance manual, the landing gear operational and rigging checks are to be performed every 12 months or 100 hours. Based on this information, the inspection of the landing gear that was completed by the maintenance personnel likely was not sufficient to detect and correct these discrepancies before they resulted in the accident.
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)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach defining event
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Inadequate inspection
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,429.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 2026; 0.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 pm from BOW
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBOW 092120Z AUTO 31005KT 10SM CLR 25/02 A3020 RMK AO2 PWINO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA113.