- Date
- April 21, 1996, 19:06 local (Apr 22, 1996, 00:06 UTC)
- Place
- Manhattan, KS
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8496NBeech B55B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 16, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960421011949A
- Case key
- 10237
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to properly extend the landing gear. A factor was his failure to follow checklist procedures.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he slowed the airplane and performed a 'GUMPS' check on base. He wrote that he 'thought the wheels were down at this point.' He said he performed another 'GUMPS' check on final. He 'flared normally and went to idle...touched down, and after 2 seconds the nose dropped, and [the airplane] began to slide.' He reported that he heard the landing gear warning horn during the flare, but thought it was the stall warning horn. He reported that when he returned to the airplane five minutes after the accident, he observed the landing gear control handle in an intermediate position between the center and bottom detent. The landing gear system functioned normally during an operational check.
Factual narrative
On March 21, 1996, at 1906 central daylight time, a Beech B55B, N8496N, sustained substantial damage during a gear up landing in Manhattan, Kansas. The private pilot reported no injuries. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated in Aurora, Illinois about 1630 with a planned destination of Manhattan, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed.
In his written statement the pilot reported that he canceled instrument flight rules with Kansas City Center when he had his destination airport in sight. He slowed the airplane and performed a "GUMPS" check. He wrote that he "thought the wheels were down at this point." He said he performed another "GUMPS" check on final. He "flared normally and went to idle...touched down, and after 2 seconds the nose dropped, and [the airplane] began to slide."
He reported that he returned to the airplane five minutes after the accident and observed the landing gear control handle in an intermediate position between the center and bottom detent.
During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Operations Inspector, the pilot reported that he heard the landing gear warning horn during the flare, but thought it was the stall warning horn.
Following the accident, a FAA certified mechanic performed a functional check of the landing gear system. He reported that the landing gear system functioned normally.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8496N
- Reported as
- Beech B55B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TC1115
- Airframe hours
- 2,916
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-L, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Neville W. Reay
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 21, 1996 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- ARR · Aurora, IL
- Destination
- MHK
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MHK · Manhattan Municipal, runway 21, 7,000 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 415 total · 13 in this make and model · 302 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MHK
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.