Cessna 310N accident near Lake Havasu Cit, Arizona, October 27, 2006
On October 27, 2006 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 310N, registered N56MB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Havasu Cit, Arizona (Lake Havasu City Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2006 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Havasu Cit, Arizona · Lake Havasu City Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310N · all 310Ns on the register
- Registration
- N56MB · registry record · serial 310N-0072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing, the airplane veered off the runway and the left main landing gear collapsed following an aborted gear-up landing during which the propeller contacted to the runway. The pilot said he extended the landing gear on entry to the downwind leg of the traffic pattern; however, ground witnesses saw the landing gear retracted during the entire approach and attempted landing. During the landing flare with the landing gear in the retracted position, the left propeller contacted the runway surface. The pilot aborted the landing. While climbing to the crosswind leg, the pilot noted that the airplane's performance was not sufficient to complete a landing pattern. He then performed a 180-degree return back to the runway and extended the landing gear. As the airplane touched down, the airplane veered off the runway surface, encountered a dirt area, and the left main landing gear collapsed . At the request of Safety Board investigators, an FAA certified aircraft mechanic performed an examination of the airplane shortly after the accident. He stated that he found no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded the landing gear from operating normally.
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; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 462 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 302 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470 Series (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-470 Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 7:20 pm
- Destination: HII Lake Havasu AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 8,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from EED, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.