# NTSB CEN12CA436: Beech 58, N2023V, Sugar Loaf Mountain, MI, July 10, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2012, 14:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Sugar Loaf Mountain, MI - Coordinates: 44.912223, -85.813888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9122&lon=-85.8139&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 84290 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA436 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84290/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84290 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA436 ## Probable cause The pilot did not complete the before-landing checklist and, subsequently, failed to extend the landing gear prior to landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction with his passengers’ conversation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 58, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 58, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 58, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 58, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, on a personal cross-country flight, had flown into the destination airport many times before and was familiar with the procedures associated with landing there. While completing the before-landing checklist, the pilot became distracted by conversation from the passengers. The pilot said that he did not hear the gear warning horn and, before he realized that the gear was still up, the airplane impacted the runway, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage during the wheels-up landing. Earlier in the flight, the pilot briefed his passengers about having a sterile cockpit environment during the landing phase of flight, but the conversation did not cease. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies associated with the accident. ## Factual narrative The airplane was on a personal cross country flight. The pilot had flown into the destination airport many times before and was familiar with the procedures associated with landing there. While completing the before landing checklist, the pilot became distracted by conversation from the passengers. The pilot never heard the gear warning horn and before he realized that the gear was still up, he impacted on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the wheels up landing. No one onboard was injured during the accident. Earlier in the flight, the pilot briefed his passengers about having a sterile cockpit environment during the landing phase of flight. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies associated with the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2023V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2023V-2014-12-18), registration cancelled 2014-12-18, S/N TH-968, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 58 - Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TH-968 - Airframe hours: 6289 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dotaero L L C - Registered owner: Dotaero L L C - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 16, 2011, 72 hours before - Departed: GRR, Grand Rapids, MI - Destination: Y04, Sugar Loaf Mountain, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: Y04, Sugar Loaf Mountain, runway 02, 3,519 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 7, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 6,896 total, 2,701 in this make and model, 6,896 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: kvtc, 25 nm away ## 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 20120710014149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120710014149A), Jul 10, 2012: Beech 58, Traverse City, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he forgot to extend gear prior to landing ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84290. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.