Cessna T210 accident near Chandler, Arizona, March 9, 2019
On March 9, 2019 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna T210, registered N732SJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's distraction while looking for other aircraft in the traffic pattern, which resulted in his failure to follow a prelanding checklist and to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the improperly rigged landing gear warning switch, which prevented an audible warning sound.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2019 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210 M, built 1977 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N732SJ · no longer on the register · serial 21061735
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the retractable-landing gear equipped-airplane reported that, while in the traffic pattern, he was distracted while looking for other aircraft and failed to continue the landing checklist, but he assumed it was completed. During the approach, he reduced power and did not hear the landing gear warning horn. The pilot then landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted. The pilot added that, during the recovery process with a tow truck, they attempted to troubleshoot the landing gear warning system, but they still did not hear the landing gear warning horn. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administrator inspector revealed that the landing gear audible warning horn switch on the bulkhead (engine compartment) was improperly rigged, and the horn did not sound when tested. He added that the airplane was equipped with a mirror on the right wing, which the pilot could have used to visually check if the landing gear were extended.
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 not configured during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,121 hours in all; 196 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,047 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 16, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,492.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R9B (piston); 1,170 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: A39 Maricopa AZ at 8:30 pm
- Destination: CHD Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22L, 4,870 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from KCHD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 17, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Airplane Maintenance Manual Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 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.