# NTSB ERA14CA028: Beech 95 B55 (T42A), N711H, Newnan, GA, October 25, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 25, 2013, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Newnan, GA
- Coordinates: 33.311389, -84.76889 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3114&lon=-84.7689&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88343
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88343/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88343
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA028

## Probable cause

The flight instructor's inadvertent movement of the landing gear switch, which resulted in a landing gear collapse and substantial damage to the fuselage.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the flight instructor, the airplane landed without incident during the instructional flight. During the landing roll he intended to retract the flaps but instead placed the landing gear switch in the "up" position. The flight instructor immediately returned the landing gear switch to the "down" position; however, the landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid about halfway down the runway before it came to rest, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot operating handbook, "never rely on the safety switch to keep the gear down during taxi or on take-off, landing roll, or in a static position. Always make certain that the landing gear switch is in the down position during these operations."

## Factual narrative

According to the flight instructor, the airplane landed without incident during the instructional flight. During the landing roll he intended to retract the flaps but instead placed the landing gear switch in the "up" position. The flight instructor immediately returned the landing gear switch to the "down" position; however, the landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid about halfway down the runway before it came to rest, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot operating handbook, "never rely on the safety switch to keep the gear down during taxi or on take-off, landing roll, or in a static position. Always make certain that the landing gear switch is in the down position during these operations."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N711H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N711H-2015-10-02), registration cancelled 2015-10-02, S/N TC-981, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95 B55 (T42A) (A)
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-981
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 7129
- Engines: Continental Motors IO-470 Series reciprocating; Continental Motors IO-470 Series reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Falcon Aviation Academy
- Registered owner: Tac Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 3, 2013, 107 hours before
- Departed: DTS, Destin, FL
- Destination: CCO, Newnan, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CCO, Newnan Coweta County Airport, runway 32, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 31, 2013; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 785 total, 109 in this make and model, 730 as pilot in command, 282 in the last 90 days, 71 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observed at: CCO

## 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 20131025025329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131025025329A), Oct 25, 2013: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), Newnan, GA, Minor damage. On October 25, 2013 at 1530 local, aircraft N711H sustained damage while landing at Coweta county airport (cco) due to the inadvertent retraction of the…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 27, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88343. 5.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 369 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404548&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot and Passenger Statements (item 2, .PDF, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Passenger%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404555&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Airport Diagram (item 4, .PDF, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404558&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram-Master.PDF
- Excerpt from Beechcraft Pilot Operating Handbook (item 5, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404664&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20Beechcraft%20Pilot%20Operating%20Handbook-Master.PDF
- CCO Weather Observations (item 6, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404557&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CCO%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: View of airplane at rest (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404559&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20airplane%20at%20rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: View of airframe damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20airframe%20damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.

---
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.
