Cessna 340A accident near West Palm Beach, Florida, April 2, 1989
On April 2, 1989 at about 3:12 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N4273C, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Palm Beach, Florida (Palm Beach Intl 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
FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR BELLCRANK ASSEMBLY DUE TO BINDING AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE LUBRICATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1989 · about 3:12 pm local time
- Place
- West Palm Beach, Florida · Palm Beach Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N4273C · registry record · serial 340A1009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD THREE GREEN LIGHTS ON APPROACH, BUT ON LANDING ROLLOUT, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT SLID OFF THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS. AN EXAM OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR REVEALED THE BELLCRANK ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED DUE TO BINDING, CAUSED BY LACK OF LUBRICATION OF THE DOWN LOCK BRACE. THE PLT HAD TAKEN THE ACFT TO MAINTAINENCE FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION WHEN THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR LIGHT DID NOT FUNCTION ON THE PREVIOUS FLT. THE ACFT WAS CHECKED AS OK & RELEASED FOR FLT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 675 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,990 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 6,930 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from PBI
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.