# NTSB ERA20CA148: Aero Commander 500, N516DT, Opalocka, FL, March 27, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 27, 2020, 00:15 local (04:15 UTC) - Place: Opalocka, FL - Coordinates: 25.907222, -80.283058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9072&lon=-80.2831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101156/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101156 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA148 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear due to distraction and his delayed go-around, which allowed the airplane to get too low and contact the runway with the landing gear retracted. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: configuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the descent to final, he began the GUMPS checklist. As he turned on the fuel tanks, he picked up interference on the radios. After fixing the radio situation, he continued the checklist. During the landing flare, he noticed that the "runway sight picture" seemed lower than normal. As he noticed this, he looked at the landing gear indicator, and the landing gear warning horn simultaneously sounded, so he initiated a go-around. While climbing to traffic pattern altitude, he noticed that he had failed to extend the landing gear. He added that he had not heard or felt the airplane contact the runway before the go-around. The pilot subsequently landed without incident and noted no damage during a cursory postflight inspection. He then departed and landed at another airport. Subsequently, he performed a more thorough postflight inspection of the airplane, during which he noticed that the marker beacon antenna was shaved off and that the lower fuselage of the airplane had sustained substantial damage consistent with ground contact. ## Factual narrative At the conclusion of an uneventful flight, the commercial pilot approached the runway for landing. During the landing flare, the airplane landing gear warning horn activated, so the pilot initiated a go around. While climbing to traffic pattern altitude he noticed that the landing gear handle was in the up position. He did not hear or feel the airplane contact the runway. The pilot subsequently landed and departed without incident; however, after landing at another airport he performed a more thorough post-flight inspection of the airplane. He then noticed that the marker beacon antenna was shaved off and the lower fuselage had sustained substantial damage consistent with ground contact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N516DT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N516DT), registered now, S/N 1574, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander 500 (B) - Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (registry code 0141106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1574 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 25876 - Engines: Lycoming IO540-E145 290 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO540-E145 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Central Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Central Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 18, 2020 - Departed: VDF, Tampa, FL - Destination: OPF, Miami, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: OPF, Miami-Opa Locka Executive, runway 12, 6,800 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; 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 April 7, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,156 total, 1,093 in this make and model, 1,980 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 140° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: OPF ## 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 20200327009259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200327009259A), Mar 27, 2020: Aero Commander 500-B, Opalocka, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot failed to extend the gear prior to landing. Aircraft lower surface contacted the runway. Pilot was able to get aircraft back into the air. Pilot then… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 27, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101156. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 749 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484907&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484908&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 3, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484909&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-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.