Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On May 17, 2022, at 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210N airplane, N210SD, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Denver, Colorado. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, he and his passenger were performing a local flight after the installation of a new GPS system. After flying for about 15 minutes, the pilot lowered the landing gear in preparation to land. The pilot observed the landing gear in an extended position via landing gear mirrors and confirmed a cockpit gear down light indication. After touchdown, the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded and came to rest upright on an adjacent taxiway.

According to airport surveillance video, the airplane’s landing gear appeared to be extended, and the airplane touched down uneventfully.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator.

Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a mechanic performed 10 landing gear extensions and retractions without any system anomalies noted. The cockpit landing gear light indications functioned during each gear cycle and no leaks in the system were detected. The main landing gear collapsed during landing for reasons that could not be determined.