WPR17LA204

Factual narrative

On September 15, 2017, about 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210N airplane, N5391A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Watsonville, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the flight and approach to landing were normal. During the landing, the airplane bounced, and he felt a “jerk and thump.” The next thing he recalled was the propeller impacting the runway surface as the airplane slid across the runway with the nose down. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions of the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane and accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed impact gouging and tire marks on the runway surface near the approach end of runway 20. The nose landing gear separated from the airplane and was found on the runway. The airplane came to rest on the left side of the runway and exhibited impact damage to the lower fuselage and substantial damage to the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer. The inspector noted that the nose landing gear separated “straight off,” and there was no evidence of mechanical anomalies. The nose landing gear linkage was in the down and locked position. The pilot reported that, during the landing, the airplane bounced and soon after he felt a "jerk and thump," and the propeller contacted the runway as the airplane slid across the runway with the nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer. Examination of the runway surface revealed markings consistent with a hard landing on the nose landing gear. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot failed to maintain a proper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing on the nose gear and its subsequent separation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot