Cessna T210K accident near Phoenix, Arizona, July 4, 2013
On July 4, 2013 at about 3:00 am local time, a 1970 Cessna T210K, registered N272EF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix-Mesa Gateway 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 collapse of the left main landing gear due to a broken gear tooth in the landing gear actuator.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2013 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210K, built 1970 · all T210Ks on the register
- Registration
- N272EF · no longer on the register · serial 21059302
- 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, when he put the landing gear handle down, the left main landing gear did not indicate that it was locked. He cycled the landing gear several times in an attempt to get it down and locked before landing. During the landing, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were substantially damaged. Disassembly of the left main landing gear actuator revealed that a gear tooth from the piston assembly had broken off, which prevented the left main landing gear from locking in the down position. The reason for the gear tooth failure could not be determined.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 766 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 696 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 26, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,191 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 2012; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nn9402M Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 1:25 am
- Destination: IWA Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30L, 10,401 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 23,000 ft; a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.63 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 am from PHX, 19 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N272EF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.