Cessna 340A accident near Lancaster, California, April 23, 2002
On April 23, 2002 at about 5:12 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N6304X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, California (General Wm. J. Fox Airfield). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The collapse of the right main landing gear as a result of a malfunctioning microswitch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2002 · about 5:12 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · General Wm. J. Fox Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N6304X · registry record · serial 340A0475
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following a normal approach and landing, the right main landing gear collapsed during the landing rollout. Post accident examination revealed the landing gear selector was in the down position and the landing gear microswitches were dirty, but not cracked or broken. After maintenance personnel replaced the microswitches, the landing gear functioned properly.
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: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,560 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 2,470 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 14, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,946 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TS10-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TS10-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMN Farmington NM at 2:00 pm
- Destination: WJF Lancaster CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 24, 7,201 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from WJF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 LAX02LA142.