Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI04LA124

Lansing, IL, USA

Aircraft #1

N4097S

Beech 58

Analysis

The airplane was damaged during a wheels-up landing. The flight was a non-revenue dual-instruction flight and the left seat pilot was flying the airplane at the time of the accident. The instructor, seated in the right seat, did not possess a multi-engine flight instructor rating. In a notarized questionnaire, the left seat pilot stated that the accident, "...would not have happened had each of us been alone. We got involved with each other and we both missed the final check." The repair work order did not list any landing gear components that were repaired or replaced.

Factual Information

On May 1, 2002, about 1505 central daylight time, a Beech BE58, N4097S, was substantially damaged during a wheels-up landing on runway 09 (3,395 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Lansing Municipal Airport, Lansing, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was being conducted by an airline transport pilot seated in the right seat and a commercial pilot seated in the left seat. It was reported that the right seat pilot was providing flight instruction to the left seat pilot. Neither pilot was injured. The flight originated from Detroit, Michigan, at an undetermined time. The extent of the aircraft damage was originally reported to have been minor. The National Transportation Safety Board was not informed of the true extent of the damage until April of 2004. A work order provided by the aircraft owner indicates that the repairs to the airplane included lower fuselage skins, angles, stiffeners, and stringers. No repairs or replacement of landing gear components was indicated on the work order. As of August 20, 2004, the right seat pilot has not submitted a report of the accident. The aircraft owner provided a notarized questionnaire signed by the pilot that was seated in the left seat. The left seat pilot stated that the airplane was landed with the landing gear still in the retracted position. He also stated that he was the pilot flying the airplane and receiving dual-instruction on a non-revenue flight when the accident occurred. The left seat pilot stated that the accident, "...would not have happened had each of us been alone. We got involved with each other and we both missed the final check." At the time of the accident, the pilot-in-command did not possess a multi-engine flight instructor rating. At the time of the accident, both pilot's possessed pilot certificates with multi-engine ratings.

Probable Cause and Findings

The flight crew's failure to follow the checklist resulting in a landing without the landing gear extended.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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