Cessna 310 accident near Coeur D Alene, Idaho, June 18, 2020
On June 18, 2020 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 1958 Cessna 310, registered N6602B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Coeur D Alene, Idaho (Coeur D'Alene Airport - Pappy). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper maintenance of the landing gear system which resulted in a partial gear collapse during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2020 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Coeur D Alene, Idaho · Coeur D'Alene Airport - Pappy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310 B, built 1958 · all 310s on the register
- Registration
- N6602B · no longer on the register · serial 35702
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on final approach for landing, with the landing gear extended, when the landing gear indication light in the cockpit started to flicker. After a few seconds, the light became solid. The pilot visually verified that all three landing gear were extended and then proceeded to land. Upon touchdown, the left main landing gear (MLG) collapsed. The airplane slid off the runway and came to rest in the adjacent field, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. A postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed several discrepancies, including missing cotter pins and other hardware, improper tension on the landing gear downlocks, and mis-rigging of the landing gear actuator. Because the most recent maintenance for the landing gear system was documented 15 days before the accident, it is likely these discrepancies were not addressed during the maintenance (which included a main landing gear wheel, tire, and brake inspection). The most severe discrepancy was likely the mis-rigged condition of the retraction system, which would have allowed the left main landing gear to enter an overcenter position and collapse during landing.
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) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 403 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 332 as pilot in command; 131 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 17, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 4,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,400 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2022. 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 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Gear Examination | PDF, 35 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Wreckage Release Memo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | 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.