Cessna 210 accident near Pahrump, Nevada, March 6, 2011
On March 6, 2011 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 210, registered N9400T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Pahrump, Nevada (Calvada Meadows 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
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to touchdown and his improper decision to abort a gear-up landing following a propeller strike.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2011 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Pahrump, Nevada · Calvada Meadows Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N9400T · no longer on the register · serial 57200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing sequence, he realized he did not extend the landing gear when he felt the fuselage of the airplane impact the runway and he elected to abort the landing. During the go-around process, the pilot extended the landing gear. Shortly after aborting the landing, the airplane’s climb rate diminished and engine began to lose power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over, resulting in structural damage to both wings. Examination of the runway by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed numerous gouges on the runway surface consistent with a propeller strike. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.
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 not configured during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach (VFR go-around)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 415 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 335 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,332 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 2011; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-470--E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jean NV
- Destination: NV74 Pahrump NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 12°F (-11°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.