# NTSB CEN23LA192: North American-Buehn T-6G, N42JM, Ankeny, IA, May 20, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 20, 2023, 11:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Ankeny, IA
- Coordinates: 41.691347, -93.566349 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6913&lon=-93.5663&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- 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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192210
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192210/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192210
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA192

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent retraction of the landing gear control lever, resulting in a gear-up landing on the runway.

## 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 · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [North American-Buehn T-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=6400438), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American-Buehn T-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=6400438), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/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 collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [North American-Buehn T-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=6400438), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [North American-Buehn T-6G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=6400438), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported he completed the landing checklist on the downwind leg and confirmed that the landing gear was extended via the cockpit landing gear indicator lights. Additionally, he saw that the landing gear locking pins were engaged. On final approach, the pilot intended to move the flap control lever to the “full down” position; however, he inadvertently moved the landing gear control lever from the “down” position. The pilot did not perform a visual gear down check on short final. The airplane touched down with its main landing gear retracted and came to a stop on the runway. The pilot and his passenger exited the airplane and a post-accident fire ensued. The fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged by the fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N42JM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42JM), registered now, S/N 182-735 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN-BUEHN T-6G
- Registry model: [North American-Buehn T-6G](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-buehn-t-6g) (registry code 6400438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 182-735
- Engines: Pratt and Whitney R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Departed: AMW, Ames Municiple Airport, IA
- Destination: IKV, Ankeny, IA
- Airport: KIKV, Ankeny municipal Airport, runway 36, 5,500 × 100 ft, concrete
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 11, 2022; seat: front; flight hours: 1,958 total, 13 in this make and model, 1,892 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observed at: KIKV
- METAR: KIKV 201515Z AUTO VRB05KT 9SM CLR 16/06 A3030 RMK AO2

## 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 20230520006369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230520006369A), May 20, 2023: North American-Buehn T-6G, Ankeny, IA, Destroyed. Landed with gear up and aircraft caught on fire

## Other investigations on N42JM (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI81FEX25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FEX25), Jul 7, 1981: N American AT-6G (N42JM), Indianapolis, IN, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192210. 3.1 MB in all.

- Photos (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15707569&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN23LA192-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15708434&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Redacted%20CEN23LA192-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.

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