Cessna 210B accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, November 8, 2014
On November 8, 2014, a 1962 Cessna 210B, registered N9578X, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Bullhead City, Arizona (Bullhead City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the landing gear actuator housing during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 2014
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona · Bullhead City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210B, built 1962 · all 210Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9578X · registry record · serial 21057878
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, after takeoff, he heard a loud bang after he moved the landing gear handle to the "up" position. The landing gear indication lights did not illuminate. He cycled the landing gear handle, which had no effect. In addition, the flaps would not operate. During a low pass, the tower controller informed the pilot that the landing gear were in a transit position (not retracted, not locked down). The pilot attempted to execute the emergency gear extension procedure; however, the gear would not extend. During the landing, the gear completely collapsed, and the airplane slid to a stop on its belly and then tipped on its left side, which resulted in damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that an airframe and powerplant mechanic visually examined the landing gear actuator and stated that the actuator housing had split, which resulted in the loss of hydraulic system pressure. However, no further examinations were conducted, and the reason for the housing 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 (flare/touchdown)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,401 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 235 in the last 90 days; 115 in the last 30 days; 1,193 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,110.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,998 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-470 SERIES (piston); 5,362 hours total
- Operator: Tristate Careflight LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KIFP Bullhead City AZ at 11:25 pm
- Destination: KDVT Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from KIFP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 16, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 – on Scene Photo of the Airplane | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Email from Pilot re Actuator | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.