Auburn/Opelika Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Auburn, Alabama 36830
Monday, January 11, 1982 17:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT TOOKOFF FROM NORTH HUNTSVILLE ON A RUNWAY THAT WAS WET FROM MELTED SNOW. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT, SO HE RETURNED AND LANDED. A MECHANIC FOUND ICE ON THE ANTI-RETRACTION SWITCH ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. A GROUND HEATER WAS USED TO MELT THE ICE AND THE SWITCH WAS CLEANED. ANOTHER TAKEOFF WAS MADE AND THE GEAR RETRACTED NORMALLY. DURING ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION, THE NOSE GEAR WOULD EXTEND ONLY ABOUT HALF-WAY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND AND LOCK THE NOSE GEAR WITH EITHER NORMAL OR EMERGENCY SYSTEMS. HE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE MAIN GEAR WITH THE PROPELLERS FEATHERED. DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE PROPELLERS AND THE NOSE SECTION. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE TUBE ASSEMBLY, PN 0840125-4, WAS BOWED AND BROKEN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/11/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City AUBURN
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36830
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport AUBURN/OPELIKA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AVO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 324
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N424VW
NTSB Number ATL82DKJ09
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 310L
Aircraft Series Identifier 310L
Aircraft Serial Number 310-0141
Certified Max Gross Weight 5300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 3000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VICTOR W. RUWE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10302 SAGEBRUSH CR.
Aircraft Owner City HUNTSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35803
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name VICTOR W. RUWE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 10302 SAGEBRUSH CR.
Operator City HUNTSVILLE
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35803
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City HUNTSVILLE
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City AUBURN
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3945
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --