Cessna 340A accident near Jacksonville, Florida, February 14, 1989
On February 14, 1989 at about 5:09 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N5454X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida (Craig Field). 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
SEIZURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR UPPER DOWNLOCK TOP BUSHING, AND THE FAILURE OF OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO PROPERLY RIG THE LANDING GEAR DOWN LIGHT MICRO SWITCHES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1989 · about 5:09 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · Craig Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N5454X · registry record · serial 340A1512
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COLLAPSE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR DURING TAXI. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE COLLAPSE WAS DUE TO THE SEIZURE OF THE UPPER DOWNLOCK TOP BUSHING. IT ALLOWED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR TO BE RIGGED IMPROPERLY AND NOT BE FULLY DOWN AND LOCKED WHEN THE GEAR DOWN LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE EXPANDED INSPECTION PROCEDURES SPECITY THAT THE LANDING GEAR BUSHING MUST BE FREE.
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: 2,046 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,342 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 1988; 70 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: BQK Brunswick GA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: CRG Jacksonville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from CRG
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.