Cessna P210N accident near Auburn, Washington, April 11, 2024
On April 11, 2024 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna P210N, registered N806RC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Auburn, Washington (Auburn Muni 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An overstress fracture of the left main landing gear actuator, which resulted in the failure of the left main landing gear to fully extend and lock into place.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2024 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Washington · Auburn Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N, built 1978 · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N806RC · no longer on the register · serial P21000149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to practice maneuvers and perform system checks on the airplane. The pilot extended the landing gear during the flight, and although the gear appeared to be extended the down-and-locked light did not illuminate. The pilot made multiple attempts to lower the gear, including performing the manual extension procedures. The pilot performed a low pass over the airport and was informed by his mechanic that the gear appeared to be extended. During the subsequent landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Postaccident examination revealed that the left main landing actuator barrel had a longitudinal fracture. Metallurgical examination of the fracture surfaces revealed signatures of overstress. The overstress fracture of the actuator resulted in the failure of the landing gear to fully extend. A functional test and examination of the hydraulic power pack revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,350 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 6, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,978 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 2024; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-RCP (piston); 2,600 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 3,842 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KSEA, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSEA 112053Z 24009KT 10SM FEW012 FEW050 BKN100 OVC230 12/03 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP138 T01170033 56026
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on November 26, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airframe Exam | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Actuator Exam Email | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR24LA126.