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Atlas / NTSB / WPR23LA327

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR23LA327

2023-08-27 Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States Airport · SAF None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N117TC

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 310Q

Year of manufacture

1973 · 50 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR I0-470 SERIES (260 hp)

Seats / Engines

6 seats · 2 engines

Last airworthiness date

19730702

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A047E0

Registrant of record

CHRISTENSEN DEL S

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s improper landing flare following an unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported being high and fast on final approach. When he reduced power to land the airplane descended rapidly and landed hard. The left landing gear collapsed and the airplane exited the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA327.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.