- Date
- July 25, 1982, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Aurora, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N444QBeechcraft C-45H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820725038719A
- Case key
- 69849
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 was unable to extend the landing gear by using either the normal or emergency systems. After repeated attempts to extend the gear, he elected to land with it configured in a free-fall position. He shut down and feathered both engines on final approach. During touchdown, the wheels were forced up from their free-fall position and into the wheel wells, and subsequently, the plane was substantially damaged. An investigation revealed that the landing gear slide tubes, slides, and actuating chains contained an excessive accumulation of grease, dirt, and grit. Also, an accumulation of rust was found on the slide tubes.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N444Q
- Reported as
- Beechcraft C-45H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AF62
- Airframe hours
- 6,050
- Engine
- P & W R-985-14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- James E. Slocum
- Registered owner
- Eugene O'Brien
- Departed
- 3CO5 · Strausburg, CO
- Destination
- F28 · El Reno, OK
- Airport
- OIV · Columbine, runway 25, 2,500 × 80 ft, grass/turf
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
- 28
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 4,249 total · 564 in this make and model · 4,134 as pilot in command · 160 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Temperature
- 203 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.