Cessna 210N accident near Gainesville, Florida, April 26, 2001
On April 26, 2001 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 210N, registered N6585A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gainesville, Florida (Gainesville Regional airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 pilot's delay in securing all non-essential electrical equipment in-flight resulting in battery depletion before complete gear extension was accomplished using the normal system and subsequent collapse of the main landing gear. A contributing factor in the accident was the inadequate manufacture of an electrical cable by company maintenance personnel resulting in separation of one end of the cable in-flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2001 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Florida · Gainesville Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210N · all 210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6585A · no longer on the register · serial 21063554
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The first two legs were uneventful. The pilot stated that the flight departed on the third leg and approximately 15 minutes into the flight, he noted a problem with the airplane's radios. He attempted to troubleshoot the radio problem and checked the ammeter which indicated a slight discharge. He turned on all the aircraft's lights to see if the ammeter would change; it did not. He then secured all electrical equipment with the exception of the No. 1 communication transceiver and transponder. He checked the circuit breakers and reset the alternator switch; with negative results. He was cleared to land via a light signal from the tower and lowered the landing gear electrically. He reported hearing the landing gear motor operate, felt a sensation that he equated to was the landing gear locking into position, and looked out and thought that the main landing gear were locked into position; he could not see the gear down and locked light due to sunlight. After touchdown, the main landing gear collapsed; the nose landing gear did not collapse. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the "A+" electrical cable which is connected to the alternator and a terminal block on the firewall was separated from the wire connector at the terminal block on the firewall. Further examination determined that the cable was locally manufactured and appeared to be too short which did not allow for vibration.
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: 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: 1,040 hours in all
- Last flight review: January 13, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,999 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 20, 2001; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKV Brooksville FL at 3:55 pm
- Destination: GNV Gainesville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 10, 7,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 5:32 pm from GNV
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.