Cessna 210L accident near Fayetteville, Arkansas, October 1, 1999
On October 1, 1999 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 210L, registered N2157S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fayetteville, Arkansas (Northwest Arkansas Rgnl 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 cause of the right main gear collapse was undetermined. A factor was the failure of the gear 'down & locked' switch resulting in a false 'down & locked' indication in the cockpit.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1999 · about 8:30 pm local time · cases in 1999
- Place
- Fayetteville, Arkansas · Northwest Arkansas Rgnl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N2157S · registry record · serial 21061118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was cleared to land. He extended the landing gear on 1/2 mile final, and he 'heard the gear lock into position.' He added that he then visually checked to see that the gear was extended and confirmed this by noting the illuminated green light in the cockpit. Upon touchdown, a noise was heard, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane exited the runway surface and came to rest in a grassy area. Examination of the landing gear system revealed that the right main gear down lock switch failed in the 'closed' or 'down locked' position. Furthermore, 'dried paint stripper and paint' were observed around the plunger portion of the switch, which prevented the plunger from extending.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,959 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 600 hours since
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8M2 Weiner AR at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 8,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2157S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2157S on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 210 Centurion 1,526 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-520 9,485 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Northwest Arkansas Ntl Airport · nearest airport
- Sally Wofford Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arkansas 1,582 since 1982 · 177 in the last ten years
- Arkansas 3,495 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N2157S 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW00LA002.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.