# NTSB CEN20CA363: Beech 55, N1621W, Athens, TX, August 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 21, 2020, 19:45 local (Aug 22, 2020, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Athens, TX - Coordinates: 32.199375, -95.850013 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1994&lon=-95.8500&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101859 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA363 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101859/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101859 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA363 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear during the approach and landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 95-B55 (T42A), 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1152706), [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 95-B55 (T42A), 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot and private pilot rated passenger departed on a local, personal flight. The pilot reported that he failed to extend the landing gear before landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage ribs and stringers. He said that the landing gear warning did not sound through the headsets, so the sound was faint and that the gear warning sounded like the stall warning, which was “confusing.” The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1621W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1621W), registered now, S/N TC-1455, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 55 (95B55) - Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-1455 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 6000 - Engines: Continental IO-470 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-470 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 2019 - Airport: F44, Athens Municipal Airport, runway 18, 3,988 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 11, 2020; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 25,400 total, 0.8 in this make and model, 18,750 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; last flight review April 23, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 297 total, 25 in this make and model, 224 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: F44 ## 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 20200822014189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200822014189A), Aug 22, 2020: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), Athens, TX, Substantial damage. Gear up landing ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101859. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11504490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11503979&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20photo363-Rel.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.