# NTSB CEN21LA248: Beech 1900, N219VP, Denver, CO, June 3, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 2, 2021, 20:00 local (Jun 3, 2021, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.861667, -104.67316 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8617&lon=-104.6732&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Alpine Air Express, Federal Aviation Administration; DEN FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103212 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103212/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103212 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA248 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly configure the airplane for landing, which resulted in a gear-up landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 1900, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=1154160), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/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 1900, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1154160), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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 1900, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1154160), [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 1900, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1154160), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech 1900, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1154160), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, on final approach, he lowered the landing gear, placed the propeller controls forward, confirmed that the landing gear position indicator lights illuminated green, and completed the before landing checklist. He stated that he felt the drag associated with the gear being extended, but the airplane was not slowing as much as usual. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, the pilot heard radio transmissions from the controller and another airplane to check the landing gear configuration, and he stated that he saw three green lights. He reported that the landing was smooth and felt normal; however, the airplane settled onto the runway and within a few seconds, the propellers impacted the ground. Airport surveillance video indicated that the airplane’s landing gear remained fully retracted during the approach and over the runway just before touchdown. Postaccident examination of the landing gear and landing gear indicating/warning system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s failure to properly configure the landing gear before landing. ## Factual narrative On June 2, 2021, at 2000 mountain daylight time, a Beech 1900, N219VP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Denver, Colorado. The airline transport pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated by Alpine Air Express as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand cargo flight. The pilot stated that, on final approach to Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado, he lowered the landing gear, placed the propeller controls forward, confirmed that the landing gear position indicator lights illuminated green, and completed the before landing checklist. He said that he felt the drag associated with the gear being extended, but the airplane was not slowing as much as usual. He said that he planned his approach to land at the furthest point of the touchdown zone to clear the runway for traffic behind him. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, the pilot heard a transmission from the controller to check gear down. He believed that a transmission from an aircraft also told him to check that the landing gear was down. He said that he looked at the landing gear control handle and confirmed three green lights while the airplane was touching down. He reported that the landing was smooth and felt normal, but within a few seconds, the propellers impacted the ground. Airport surveillance video showed the airplane approach runway 17R with the landing gear fully retracted. All landing gear remained retracted while the airplane was over the runway and just prior to touchdown. Postaccident examination of the airplane under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the airplane wing flaps were retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage that included damage to the bottom fuselage lateral bulkheads and stringers. Examination of the landing gear and landing gear indicating/warning system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N219VP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N219VP), registered now, S/N UB-14, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 1900 - Registry model: [Beech 1900](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-1900) (registry code 1154160) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65b) (registry code 52115, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: UB-14 - Year built: 1984 - Airframe hours: 41944.3 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65B 1100 hp turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65B 1100 hp turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Operator: Alpine Air Express - Registered owner: Alpine Air Express - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RWL, Rawlins, WY - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DEN, Denver International Airport, runway 17R, 12,000 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 22, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,905 total, 816 in this make and model, 2,015 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: DEN ## 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 20210603005949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210603005949A), Jun 3, 2021: Beech 1900, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. On 06/02/2021 at approximately (2000) hrs (MDT), N219VP, sn UB-14, BE-1900, cargo operator [privacy data omitted], during landing runway 17R at Denver… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103212. 12.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13676981&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Radar playback (item 2, MP4, 8.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13688922&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=AIP1855%20DRAFT%20REPLAY-Rel.mp4 - Memorandum for record - surveillance video (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14268034&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20Surveillance%20Video-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13706333&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record-Rel.pdf - Photo log (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 248 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13706343&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 884 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13688396&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ntsb%20party%20rep_Redacted-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.