# NTSB CHI99LA206: Beech 58, N3240R, Wheeling, IL, July 2, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 1999, 11:03 local (16:03 UTC) - Place: Wheeling, IL - Coordinates: 42.130428, -87.920532 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1304&lon=-87.9205&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): 46693 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46693/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA206 ## Probable cause the landing gear extension not performed by the pilot. A contributing factor was the checklist not followed by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The Beech 58 landed wheels-up on runway 16 at Palwaukee Municipal Airport, Wheeling, Illinois. In a written statement, the pilot reported, '...Palwaukee gave me a straight in approach for runway 16 and to notify the tower 2 miles out. I flew to the left to line up with 16 and began a slow decent to traffic pattern altitude. About 3-1/2 miles out the tower cleared me to land. I began my pre landing checklist however I became distracted by what I thought was the collision avoidance equipment but in reality was my gear warning horn. There were a couple of aircraft showing up about a mile and a half away and I was looking for them and never completed the checklist and my normal prelanding GUMPS check. The aircraft landed gear up in the center of the runway and slid for a short distance. It stopped half off the left side of runway 16 however no lights were hit.' ## Factual narrative On July 2, 1999, at 1103 central daylight time, a Beech 58, N3240R, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a wheels-up landing on runway 16 (5,001 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt) at Palwaukee Municipal Airport (PWK), Wheeling, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Three Lakes Municipal Airport, Three Lakes, Wisconsin, at approximately 0945, en route to PWK. In a written statement, the pilot reported, "...Palwaukee gave me a straight in approach for runway 16 and to notify the tower 2 miles out. I flew to the left to line up with 16 and began a slow decent to traffic pattern altitude. About 3-1/2 miles out the tower cleared me to land. I began my pre landing checklist however I became distracted by what I thought was the collision avoidance equipment but in reality was my gear warning horn. There were a couple of aircraft showing up about a mile and a half away and I was looking for them and never completed the checklist and my normal prelanding GUMPS check. The aircraft landed gear up in the center of the runway and slid for a short distance. It stopped half off the left side of runway 16 however no lights were hit." Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 20-34D, Prevention of Retractable Landing Gear Failures, section 4. Operational factors and percentages involved in retractable gear aircraft accidents" as: a. Neglected to extend landing gear - 35.8 percent. b. Inadvertent retraction of landing gear - 10.3 percent. c. Activated gear, but failed to check gear position - 11.3 percent. d. Misused emergency gear system - 0.9 percent. e. Retracted gear prematurely on takeoff - 2.8 percent. f. Extend gear too late - 1.8 percent. Section 5(a)(1) states, "On the downwind leg, or at the final approach fix inbound, make it a habit to complete the recommended landing gear checklist for your aircraft...". Section 5(b)(3) states, Be familiar with the landing gear warning horn and warning light systems of your aircraft. Use the horn system to cross-check the warning light system when an unsafe condition is noted.". ## Aircraft - Registration: N3240R (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech 58 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TH1740 - Airframe hours: 354 - Engines: Continental IO550C 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: J & S Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 1999, 26 hours before - Departed: 40D, THREE LAKES, WI - Destination: PWK - Airport: PWK, Palwaukee Municipal, runway 16, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 761 total, 382 in this make and model, 575 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PWK ## 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 19990702022249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990702022249A), Jul 2, 1999: Beech 58, Chicago/Wheelin, IL, Substantial damage. On July 2, 1999, at 1103 central daylight time, a Beech 58, N3240R, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a wheels-up landing on… 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.