Cessna 340 accident near Salinas, California, July 1, 1990
On July 1, 1990 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Cessna 340, registered N5411M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salinas, California (Salinas Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO REINSTALL THE LANDING GEAR RETRACT/EXTENSION LINKAGE AND THE FAILURE OF INSPECTION PERSONNEL TO DETECT THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1990 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Salinas, California · Salinas Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340 · all 340s on the register
- Registration
- N5411M · no longer on the register · serial 3400026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON LANDING. THE LANDING GEAR RETRACT/EXTEND LINKAGE WAS FOUND DISCONNECTED AND THE ATTACHING HARDWARE, NUTS AND WASHERS, WERE FOUND IN THE WHEEL WELL. THE LINKAGE HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED DURING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED THREE OPERATIONAL 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,021 hours in all; 1,965 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,990 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UKI Ukiah CA at 8:25 pm
- Destination: SNS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,825 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:50 pm from SNS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.