Cessna 550 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, March 29, 2009
On March 29, 2009 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Cessna 550, registered N44FR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City International airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The uncommanded retraction of the right main landing gear hydraulic actuator strut for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2009 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · Salt Lake City International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 550 · all 550s on the register
- Registration
- N44FR · registry record · serial 550-0334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was executing a full-stop landing, prior to which he had confirmed the illumination of the three green "gear-down" lights. Although the touchdown was uneventful, during the landing roll the right main landing gear actuator shaft retracted into its housing, resulting in the retraction of the right main landing gear into its wheel well. The airplane then departed the runway and impacted the adjacent runway lights. A series of postaccident inspections and tests were unable to determine what anomaly or malfunction initiated the retraction of the actuator shaft.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,768 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,064 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 19, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,850 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,811 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,709 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 26, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 14,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada JT15D-4 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada JT15D-4 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fritzi Jet LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KGBD Great Bend KS at 6:30 pm
- Destination: KSLC Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 9,596 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 18 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| 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.