Cessna T210L accident near Idaho Falls, Idaho, July 12, 2012
On July 12, 2012 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N787AE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Idaho Falls, Idaho (Idaho Falls Regional 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 before landing. Contributing to the accident was an uncorrected malfunction of the landing gear warning horn system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2012 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Idaho Falls, Idaho · Idaho Falls Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N787AE · registry record · serial 21059799
- 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, in anticipation of a difficult approach and landing due to the reported wind, he configured the airplane early with the mixture rich, propeller at high rpm, and the fuel selected to the fullest tank. He did not extend the landing gear due to the distance from the airport. The pilot entered the traffic pattern on a normal 45-degree entry for landing. On final approach, he failed to perform the prelanding checklist and to confirm that the landing gear was down. The airplane touched down on the runway with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage structure. The pilot stated that, during the annual inspection, the gear warning horn system was noted to be out of adjustment, and this had not been resolved. The pilot reported no other preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear position and warning › Not serviced/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 427 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 383 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 2, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S43 Snohomish WA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: IDA Idaho Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 9,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:45 am from IDA
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.