# NTSB ERA20LA035: Beech 55, N686DR, Griffin, GA, November 9, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 9, 2019, 10:24 local (14:24 UTC)
- Place: Griffin, GA
- Coordinates: 33.226943, -84.275001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2269&lon=-84.2750&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100562
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100562/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100562
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA035

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to ensure that the airplane was properly configured for takeoff, which resulted in the inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll and the airplane’s subsequent runway excursion.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 560 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [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)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 3,659 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was giving rides in his airplane and the accident flight was the fifth flight of the morning. After the passengers boarded, the pilot taxied to the runway and completed the before takeoff checklist, then applied full power for takeoff. He reported that everything appeared normal during the takeoff roll, but, as the airplane approached 70 knots, about one third of the way down the runway, the landing gear suddenly retracted and the airplane skidded off the right side of the runway before coming to rest partially on the grass and runway pavement. Postaccident examination of the airplane and landing gear system found that the gear handle operated normally, and the landing gear functioned as designed. No anomalies were discovered with the system that would preclude normal operation. Following the accident, the pilot noticed that the landing gear handle was in the up, or retracted, position. It is likely that, at some point while on the ground, the landing gear handle was inadvertently moved to the retracted position, possibly by one of the numerous passengers during exit or entry. During the takeoff roll, once the airplane started to gain lift, the weight on the wheels was reduced to a point that allowed for the landing gear retraction system to activate, which resulted in the landing gear retracting at an airspeed at which the airplane was unable to become airborne. The airplane’s initial checklist included a line item to check that the landing gear lever was down. The pilot did not observe that the landing gear lever position was in the retracted position prior to takeoff.

## Factual narrative

On November 9, 2019, at 1024 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE55, N686DR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Griffin, Georgia. The commercial pilot and four passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was giving rides in his airplane, and the accident flight was the fifth flight of the morning. After the passengers boarded, the pilot taxied to runway 14 and completed the before takeoff checklist, then applied full power for takeoff. He reported that everything appeared normal during the takeoff roll, but, as the airplane approached 70 knots, about one third of the way down the runway, the landing gear suddenly retracted, and the airplane skidded off the right side of the runway before coming to rest partially on the grass and runway pavement. Following the accident, the pilot noticed that the landing gear handle was in the up position; he reported that it may have been accidentally bumped by one of the passengers as they got into the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. A subsequent follow-up examination of the airplane and landing gear system revealed that the gear handle operated normally, and the landing gear functioned as designed. No anomalies were discovered with the system that would preclude normal landing gear operation. Maintenance was performed on the landing gear handle on January 19, 2018, at an airframe total time of 3,896 hours; the landing gear control handle was loose due to a selector handle spring retainer irregularity. The landing gear handle was repaired, and functionality was verified. There were no additional maintenance irregularities noted with the system during subsequent maintenance and the pilot reported no issues with the landing gear since the maintenance was performed 22 months before the accident. The airplane’s "initial" checklist included a line item stating "gear lever – down." According to the airplane flight manual landing gear systems description, the airplane was equipped with a safety switch to prevent inadvertent retraction of the landing gear on the ground; a main strut safety switch opens the control circuit when the strut is compressed. A caution note stated, “Never rely on the safety switch to keep the gear down during taxi or on takeoff, 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: [N686DR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N686DR-2020-09-02), registration cancelled 2020-09-02, S/N TC-1049, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech 55 (95B55)
- 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-1049
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 3994.5
- Engines: Continental IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2019, 38 hours before
- Departed: 6A2, Griffin, GA
- Destination: 6A2, Griffin, GA
- Airport: 6A2, Griffin-Spalding County, runway 14, 3,701 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review September 28, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,678 total, 670 in this make and model, 2,486 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: 6A2, 1 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 20191109020949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191109020949A), Nov 9, 2019: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), Griffin, GA, Substantial damage. On November 9 2019, at approximately 10:30AM EST. Pilot [privacy data omitted] was preparing for take-off from Griffin airport (6A2). [privacy data omitted]…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 16, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100562. 1.6 GB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9784705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20report%20for%20N686DR_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation_pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9791105&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9784848&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airport surveillance video of accident (item 4, AVI, 1.6 GB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9784714&FileExtension=avi&FileName=Airport_PTZ_2019119_10_22_0_Split_0-Rel.avi
- Maintenance logbook excerpts (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9785705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Logbook%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array-accident site and airplane damage (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 624 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9783811&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Pilot operating handbook excerpt (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9792756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf
- Airplane checklist (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9787216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Checklist-Rel.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.

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