What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
When: October 5, 2022, 1130 CST
Where: Freeport, IL, Albertus Airport (kfep)
An airline transport pilot (ATP) was operating a Beechcraft bonanza A36,privacy data omitteddeparting from rockford international airport (krfd) on a flight to Albertus Airport (kfep). There was one passenger on board. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and using visual flight rules (VFR). The nearest automated weather observation station (AWOS) report light winds and clear skies, METAR kfep 051635Z auto 24005KT 10SM clr 21/06 A3013.
The pilot in command (PIC) stated that new avionics had recently been installed in the aircraft. He further stated that he and his passenger were attempting to set up a vertically guided approach to the destination airport just prior to the crash. The PIC reported that he became distracted by the task and neglected to perform a before landing or landing checklist. The aircraft subsequently touched down with the landing gear in the retracted position and came to rest on the belly. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. No damage to persons or property was reported. No mechanical issues were reported.
As the FAA filed it
WHEN: OCTOBER 5, 2022, 1130 CST
WHERE: FREEPORT, IL, ALBERTUS AIRPORT (KFEP)
AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT (ATP) WAS OPERATING A BEECHCRAFT BONANZA A36,^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^DEPARTING FROM ROCKFORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KRFD) ON A FLIGHT TO ALBERTUS AIRPORT (KFEP). THERE WAS ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) AND USING VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR). THE NEAREST AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVATION STATION (AWOS) REPORT LIGHT WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES, METAR KFEP 051635Z AUTO 24005KT 10SM CLR 21/06 A3013.
THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) STATED THAT NEW AVIONICS HAD RECENTLY BEEN INSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE AND HIS PASSENGER WERE ATTEMPTING TO SET UP A VERTICALLY GUIDED APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE PIC REPORTED THAT HE BECAME DISTRACTED BY THE TASK AND NEGLECTED TO PERFORM A BEFORE LANDING OR LANDING CHECKLIST. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE LANDING GEAR IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND CAME TO REST ON THE BELLY. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO DAMAGE TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY WAS REPORTED. NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WERE REPORTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.