Cessna T310R accident near Casper, Wyoming, February 17, 2013
On February 17, 2013 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna T310R, registered N4941J, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Casper, Wyoming (Casper/Natrona County Int'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the right main gear bracket assembly from its wing attachment fitting due to lack of lubrication of the torque tube bearing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 2013 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Casper, Wyoming · Casper/Natrona County Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T310R R, built 1976 · all T310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4941J · no longer on the register · serial 310R0728
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, while retracting the landing gear, the pilot heard an unusual banging sound on the right side of the airplane. The right main landing gear did not fully retract. The pilot cycled the gear. When he did not get an indication that the landing gear was in the down and locked position, he attempted to manually extend the gear; however, this was not successful. Upon landing, the airplane experienced a right main landing gear collapse. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main gear bracket assembly had separated from its wing attachment point fitting. Further, the torque tube bearing would not rotate and lacked lubrication. It is likely that with no rotation in the bearing, the attachment fitting became worn with each cycle and reached a point where it could no longer support the load applied and separated.
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 takeoff defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Grease › Not serviced/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 5,697 hours in all; 1,436 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 5,697 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 19, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,770 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 20, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 3,797 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 900 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPR Casper WY at 10:30 pm
- Destination: SHR Sheridan WY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 03, 10,165 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from CPR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| 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.