Cessna 210G accident near Livermore, California, March 9, 1992
On March 9, 1992 at about 3:45 am local time, a Cessna 210G, registered N5885F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livermore, California (Livermore Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SADDLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 1992 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210G · all 210Gs on the register
- Registration
- N5885F · no longer on the register · serial 210G58885
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THE FLIGHT WAS INBOUND FOR LANDING WHEN HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN EXTENDING THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID INTO A RUNWAY LIGHT STRUCTURE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS REVEALED THAT THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SADDLE CASTING HAD FAILED, LEAVING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WITHOUT SUPPORT. THE LANDING GEAR SADDLE STRUCTURE ON THIS AIRCRAFT IS THE SUBJECT OF AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE WHICH REQUIRES REPETITIVE INSPECTIONS FOR CRACKS. THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE AD HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH ON THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION, 42 HOURS AND 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE FAA INSPECTOR NOTED THAT THE SADDLE CASTING HAD ABUNDANT EVIDENCE OF A RECENT DIE PENETRANT INSPECTION.
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
- Flight time: 1,284 hours in all; 976 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,284 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,347 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1991; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O36 Tracy CA at 1:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,255 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.