# NTSB CEN14LA463: Beech A36, N3084Z, Grand Rapids, MI, August 20, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 2014, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Grand Rapids, MI - Coordinates: 42.880832, -85.522781 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8808&lon=-85.5228&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 21, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89967 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA463 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89967/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89967 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA463 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. ## 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 A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, upon touchdown, he heard the lower fuselage scraping the runway. The pilot stated that he failed to extend the landing gear before landing because he had been distracted with flying a practice instrument approach. The airplane was hoisted off the runway during recovery, and the landing gear was subsequently extended normally. No anomalies were identified with the landing gear extension system that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2014, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Beech model A36 airplane, N3084Z, was substantially damaged during a wheels-up landing at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), Grand Rapids, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by 7 Yrs 700, LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed South Bend International Airport (SBN), about 1600.The pilot reported that he had flown a practice instrument landing system approach (ILS) to runway 26L and upon touchdown he heard the airplane's lower fuselage scraping the runway. The pilot stated that he failed to extend the landing gear because he had been distracted with flying the practice instrument approach. A postaccident examination revealed abrasion damage along the airplane keel beam, several structural frames, and the lower fuselage skin. The landing gear extended normally after it was hoisted off the runway during recovery. No anomalies were identified with the landing gear extension system that would have prevented normal operation. At 1653, the GRR automated surface observing system (ASOS) reported: wind 250 degrees at 12 knots, gusting 20 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 3,400 feet above ground level (agl) and 9,000 feet agl; temperature 26 degrees Celsius; dew point 19 degrees Celsius; and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3084Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3084Z), registered now, S/N E-2426, built 1988 (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-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2426 - Year built: 1988 - Airframe hours: 2157.4 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: 7 Yrs 700, LLC - Registered owner: 7 Yrs 700, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2014, 42 hours before - Departed: SBN, South Bend, IN - Destination: GRR, Grand Rapids, MI - Airport: GRR, Gerald R. Ford Intl Airport, runway 26L, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 31, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 750 total, 90 in this make and model, 750 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: GRR ## 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 20140820014369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140820014369A), Aug 20, 2014: Beech A36, Grand Rapids, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot followed ILS approach to runway 26L, pilot landed gear up. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89967. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 897 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434844&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (John Farnham) (item 2, .PDF, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(John%20Farnham)-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (Mary Bernthal) (item 3, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20(Mary%20Bernthal)-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (Aircraft Recovery Personnel) (item 4, .PDF, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20(Aircraft%20Recovery%20Personnel)-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.