Cessna P210N accident near Carefree, Arizona, February 10, 2008
On February 10, 2008 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4796K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Carefree, Arizona (Sky Ranch Airport At Carefree). It was a business 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 collapse of the landing gear during landing rollout for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2008 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Carefree, Arizona · Sky Ranch Airport At Carefree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4796K · registry record · serial P21000323
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing roll, he thought he "had blown the left tire" followed by the airplane settling onto its left side a second or two later. The airplane veered to the left and exited the runway, subsequently coming to rest upright adjacent to the runway. Post accident examination of the landing gear revealed that the gear warning horn was inoperative due to a disconnected cable between the throttle switch and the warning horn. Further examination, to include functionality testing of the landing gear, revealed no additional anomalies that would have prevented the gear from extending to the down and locked position.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear position and warning › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,012 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,890 as pilot in command; 182 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,772 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2007; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-15B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KTEX Telluride CO
- Destination: 18AZ Carefree AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,037 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.