Marathon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marathon, Florida 33050
Monday, March 17, 2014 12:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was practicing a simulated engine-out visual approach to the asphalt runway. He extended the landing gear on short final and believed it was down and locked; however, after touchdown, the left and right main landing gear retracted into their respective wheel-wells. A witness at the airport who observed the accident stated that the airplane's main landing gear was not fully extended when the airplane touched down on the runway. The pilot stated that he did not hear the aural landing gear warning horn prior to landing and he did not recall if the green (landing gear down) landing gear position indicator lights were illuminated prior to landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. Initial postaccident examination of the airplane, which included a check of the landing gear warning system and a landing gear retraction test, did not reveal any anomalies. Subsequent additional examination of the landing gear system, which included multiple landing gear extension-retraction cycles revealed a faulty hydraulic power pack contactor, which resulted in intermittent extension of the landing gear. Review of the airplane's pilot operating handbook, normal procedures, before landing checklist, included: "4. Landing Gear – CHECK (observe main gear down and green indicator light on)."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to ensure that the airplane's landing gear was down and locked prior to touchdown. Contributing to the accident was the possibility of intermittent landing gear operation due to a faulty hydraulic power pack contactor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/2014
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Marathon
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33050
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 244334N
Event Location Longitude 0810305W
Event Location Airport MARATHON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MTH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 197
Airport Elevation 5
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MTH
Elevation of weather observation facility 5
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32834
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 17 2014 4:39PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N210JZ
NTSB Number ERA14CA157
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 210N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21063793
Certified Max Gross Weight 3803
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 12 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 5302
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name David C Hill
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lancaster
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03584
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name David C Hill
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lancaster
Operator State NH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 03584
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code X51
Departure City Homestead
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MTH
Destination City Marathon
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 17 2014 4:39PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 5008
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --