# NTSB CEN09CA356: Beech A36, N451S, Charleston, MO, March 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 20, 2009, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Charleston, MO - Coordinates: 36.842224, -89.359725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8422&lon=-89.3597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-St Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74047 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA356 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74047/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74047 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA356 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent use of the landing gear selector handle instead of the flap handle during landing rollout, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had landed uneventfully at the conclusion of a local flight. However, during the landing rollout the pilot stated that he mistakenly selected the landing gear handle instead of the flap handle. As a result, the nose landing gear collapsed, damaging the nose gear support fittings and nose gear assembly. The pilot noted that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he had landed uneventfully at the conclusion of a local flight. However, during the landing rollout the pilot stated that he mistakenly selected the landing gear handle instead of the flap handle. As a result, the nose landing gear collapsed damaging the nose gear support fittings and nose gear assembly. The pilot noted that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N451S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N451S), registered now, S/N E1200, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E1200 - Airframe hours: 2794 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Morley Tower Co - Registered owner: Morley Tower Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2009 - Departed: CHQ, Charleston, MO - Destination: CHQ, Charleston, MO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: CHQ, Mississippi County, runway 36, 3,196 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,846 total, 405 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20090320009169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090320009169A), Mar 20, 2009: Beech A36, Charleston, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 20, 2009 [privacy data omitted] was conducting a personal flight in N451S at his home airport of Mississippi County Airport (kchq). Upon making… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 10, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74047. 913 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 913 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.