Temco GC-1B accident near Sanford, North Carolina, March 1, 2001
On March 1, 2001 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Temco GC-1B, registered N3310K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sanford, North Carolina (Sanford-Lee County Regional airport). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane after the second touchdown following a bounced landing resulting in collapse of all landing gears.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2001 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, North Carolina · Sanford-Lee County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Temco GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3310K · no longer on the register · serial 3013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated to an FAA inspector that she landed on the first 1,000 feet of the 6,500 foot-long runway. After touchdown, she felt that something wasn't correct with the right main landing gear and intentionally lifted off from the runway. She applied power to go around, then realized there was 4,000 feet of runway remaining. She landed again, this time approximately 1/3 to 1/2 down the runway. After touchdown, the airplane departed the left side of the runway onto grass collapsing both main landing gears. A witness reported seeing the airplane on final approach to runway 03 when the airplane was about 30 feet above ground level. The airplane was observed to land hard then bounced about the wingspan height above the ground. Engine power was heard to be applied and the airplane was observed in a steep climb. The witness did not observe the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed damage to the firewall. Wrinkles were noted in the left side of the fuselage aft of the firewall and also on the right side of the fuselage approximately 3 feet aft of the firewall. There was no evidence of contact with the right main landing gear or of the right wingtip with the runway. Coarse scratches were noted on the bottom of the left wing tip. According to the inspector, both main landing gears were down and locked when examined following recovery of the airplane. According to the person who purchased the airplane, the engine mount was broken. The gear box was intact and the retract mechanism was OK. A record of conversation form is an attachment to this report.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,300 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 4,100 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 28, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,261 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 2000; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W75 Saluda VA at 9:15 pm
- Destination: KTTA Sanford NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 6,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from RDU, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.