Cessna T210L accident near Aurora, Oregon, January 2, 2018
On January 2, 2018 at about 5:05 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna T210L, registered N2122S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Aurora, Oregon (Aurora State 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
A collapse of the right main landing gear during the landing roll because the gear would not lock into place. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to perform the alternate landing gear extension procedure before landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 2018 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Oregon · Aurora State Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L M, built 1975 · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N2122S · registry record · serial 21061084
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a cross-country flight. He reported that, while on the downwind leg preparing to land, he activated the landing gear extension lever but that the green DOWN and LOCKED light did not illuminate. The pilot thought that the landing gear was down but performed a fly-by near the air traffic control tower so that the controller could verify the position of the gear. The controller told the pilot that the landing gear appeared to be down. The controller then cleared the pilot for a second downwind approach and landing. The pilot stated that, while preparing to land a second time, he attempted to raise and lower the landing gear, but the green DOWN and LOCKED light again did not illuminate. The pilot looked in the airplane's landing gear mirror and saw that the gear appeared to be in the down position. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage on the right side of the airplane. The pilot indicated that he had forgotten to perform the alternate landing gear extension procedure before landing, which is used when the gear will not lock into the down position. A postaccident examination of the landing gear system, which included multiple gear retraction and extension cycles with the gear locked, revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The right main landing gear collapsed because it did not lock into place, most likely due to the overcenter drag brace not fully attaining the overcenter position.
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 › Main landing gear › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,201 hours in all; 1,673 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,018 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 28, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,803.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 2017; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors, Inc. TSIO-520 (piston); 4,803 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAE Everett WA at 3:58 pm
- Destination: KUAO Aurora OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 5:48 pm from UAO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 13, 2018. 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 | Record of Conversation - Ian D. Marks | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Landing Gear Inspection Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | 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.