Cessna T210M accident near Santa Rosa, California, May 30, 2004
On May 30, 2004 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N121JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Rosa, California (Charles M. Shultz - Sonoma Co. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel's improper installation and servicing of a retaining ring, which resulted in the failure of the landing gear door actuator and failure of the landing gear extension system during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2004 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Rosa, California · Charles M. Shultz - Sonoma Co. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N121JR · registry record · serial 21061726
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane landed with the main landing gear retracted after a main landing gear door actuator failure. The pilot attempted to extend the landing gear for landing, and stated that the main landing gear would not extend, and the landing gear down-and-locked light did not illuminate. The pilot noted that the hydraulic motor continued running and that there was plenty of hydraulic fluid in the reservoir. After performing all of the recommended emergency procedures for landing gear malfunctions to no avail, the pilot landed with the nose landing gear extended and the main landing gear only partially extended. Upon landing, the airplane tilted and drifted to the left of the runway, where it impacted a sign. Post-accident examination of the landing gear revealed the right main landing gear door actuator failed, and the retaining clip was installed improperly. The failed landing gear door actuator was worked on 10.7 hours prior to 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,365 hours in all; 1,050 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,302 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,503 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 2003; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1Q5 Upper Lake CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: STS Santa Rosa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from STS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.
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.