# NTSB CHI99LA173: Aero Commander 500, N711NE, Effingham, IL, June 4, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 1999, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Effingham, IL - Coordinates: 39.110218, -88.550109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1102&lon=-88.5501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46490 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46490/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA173 ## Probable cause inadvertent wheels-up landing and the checklist not followed by the pilot. The landing gear lever not engaged was an additional cause. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,gear lever - not engaged (cause) ## Analysis The airplane made a wheels-up landing on runway 29 at Effingham County Memorial Airport, Effingham, Illinois. The pilot reported that he had lowered the landing gear and completed a checklist consisting of seven items, one of which was the landing gear. He stated that on the base leg he began to add flaps. He touched down on runway's centerline; at which point, he began to hear a low vibration. He added that when the throttles were retarded to the idle position, the gear warning horn sounded, which he initially thought was the stall warning horn. The pilot stated that during the aircraft's recovery, he had selected the master switch to the 'ON' position, and the landing gear warning horn sounded. He then stated that when he lowered the landing gear handle the landing gear extended. The pilot described the placement of the flap control and landing gear control as being separated by a distance of approximately five inches. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 1999, at 0930 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 500, N711NE, owned and piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage during a wheels-up landing on runway 29 (5,100 feet by 75 feet, dry concrete) at Effingham County Memorial Airport, Effingham, Illinois Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating on an instrument flight rule (IFR) flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The business flight originated Sumner County Regional Airport, Gallatin, Tennessee, at 0800, en route to Effingham County Memorial Airport. The pilot reported that while in the traffic pattern he had lowered the landing gear and completed a checklist consisting of seven items, one of which was the landing gear. He stated that on the base leg he began to add flaps. He touched down on runway's centerline; at which point, he began to hear a low vibration. He added that when the throttles were retarded to the idle position, the gear warning horn sounded, which he initially thought was the stall warning horn. The pilot stated that during the aircraft's recovery, he had selected the master switch to the "ON" position, and the landing gear warning horn sounded. He then stated that when he lowered the landing gear handle the landing gear extended. The pilot described the placement of the flap control and landing gear control as being separated by a distance of approximately five inches. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N711NE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N711NE), registered now, S/N 667, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander 500 - Registry model: [Aero Commander 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500) (registry code 0141102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 667 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A2B 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald F Drayton II - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 1998 - Departed: M33, GALLATIN, TN - Destination: 1H2 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 1H2, Effingham County Memorial, runway 29, 5,100 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 296 total, 82 in this make and model, 234 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MTO, 28 nm away ## 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 19990604006509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990604006509A), Jun 4, 1999: Gulstm 500RKWELL, Effingham, IL, Substantial damage. Acft landing gear collapsed on landing. (.19)on June 4, 1999, at 0930 central daylight time, an aero commander 500, N711NE, owned and piloted by a privat… 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.