# NTSB CEN24LA307: Beech 58, N484WW, Kalamazoo, MI, August 6, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 6, 2024, 17:38 local (21:38 UTC)
- Place: Kalamazoo, MI
- Coordinates: 42.233962, -85.550144
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2340&lon=-85.5501&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194870
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA307
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194870/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194870
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA307

## 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 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 equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 58, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152740), [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 58, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1152740), [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: 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 reported that, during a straight-in approach, he forgot to extend the landing gear and that he landed with the landing gear retracted. Subsequently, the airplane slid on the runway before it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N484WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N484WW-2024-11-30), registration cancelled 2024-11-30, S/N TH-909, 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-909
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 13838
- Engines: Continental IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: Gerlach & Associates, LLC, doing business as Midwest Air Link
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 25, 2024
- Departed: OKV, Wichester, VA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AZO, Kalamazoo International, runway 35, 6,502 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 155 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: KAZO
- METAR: KAZO 082153Z 27007KT 10SM CLR 27/17 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP123 T02720167 $=

## 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 20240806011609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240806011609A), Aug 6, 2024: Beech 58, Kalamazoo, MI, Substantial damage. On 8/6/2024 at approximately 1545 EDT, a Beech aircraft model 58, operating under 14 CFR part 135 on demand, experienced a gear up landing at Kalamazoo/Battle…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194870. 5.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17978715&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 902 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17978574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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