# NTSB ANC98LA148: Beech 1900C, N1563C, St. Mary'S, AK, September 12, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 1998, 23:15 local (Sep 12, 1998, 07:15 UTC) - Place: St. Mary'S, AK - Coordinates: 62.06044, -163.289489 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0604&lon=-163.2895&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 43981 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43981/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA148 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to follow the aircraft checklist, and an inadvertent wheels up landing. A factor was the pilot's distraction due to a malfunction of the flap system ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flight control,flap - inoperative (contributing factor) - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The certificated airline transport pilot was conducting a CFR Part 135 cargo flight to a remote airport. He was making a visual approach during dark night conditions in a twin-engine turboprop airplane. On the downwind portion of the landing approach, the pilot selected flaps down, but nothing happened. The pilot's trouble shooting did not remedy the flap problem, and he elected to make a flaps-up landing. The airplane settled onto the runway with the landing gear retracted. The airplane received damage to the underside, aft end of the fuselage, the engine nacelles, and propellers. The airplane is equipped with a landing gear warning horn, and a red cautionary annunciator light in the landing gear handle. The operator reported there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 1998, about 2315 Alaska daylight time, a Beech 1900C airplane, N1563C, sustained substantial damage during landing at the St. Mary's Airport, St. Mary's, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as Flight 91 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) cargo flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Alaska Central Express Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination. An IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, at 2133. The Director of Operations for the operator reported the pilot was making a visual approach during dark night conditions to runway 16 at St. Mary's. On the downwind portion of the landing approach, the pilot selected flaps down, but nothing happened. The pilot's trouble shooting did not remedy the flap problem, and he elected to make a flaps-up landing. The airplane settled onto the runway with the landing gear retracted. The airplane received damage to the underside, aft end of the fuselage, the engine nacelles, and propellers. The airplane is equipped with a landing gear warning horn, and a red cautionary annunciator light in the landing gear handle. In the pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the operator, the operator indicated there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1563C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1563C-2009-04-02), registration cancelled 2009-04-02, S/N UC-20, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 1900C - Registry model: [Beech 1900C](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-1900c) (registry code 1154161) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: UC-20 - Airframe hours: 22935 - Engines: P&W PT6A-65B 1100 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Alaska Central Express Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 1, 1998, 135 hours before - Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: PASM - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PASM, St. Mary'S, runway 16, 6,003 × 150 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11,288 total, 3,215 in this make and model, 8,415 as pilot in command, 205 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 83° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980911029909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980911029909A), Sep 11, 1998: Beech 1900C, St Marys, AK, Substantial damage. (.4) The certificated airline transport pilot was conducting a CFR part 135 cargo flight to a remote airport. He was making a visual approach during dark night… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.