# NTSB ERA23LA237: Beech 65-A90-1, N80Y, Petersburg, WV, May 18, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 18, 2023, 11:59 local (15:59 UTC) - Place: Petersburg, WV - Coordinates: 38.995833, -79.148611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9958&lon=-79.1486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 180446 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/180446/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=180446 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA237 ## Probable cause The flight crew’s failure to ensure that the landing gear were properly configured before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 65-A90-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1152901), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 65-A90-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=1152901), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 65-A90-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=1152901), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 65-A90-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1152901), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and the flight instructor were performing flight training in the turbo-propeller-powered, multi-engine airplane. After completing two uneventful takeoffs and landings, the instructor and the pilot briefed that they would next perform a no-flap landing. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot called for the before landing checklist. The instructor began reading the checklist, the pilot pushed the propeller controls fully forward, and the flight instructor mentioned that the pilot needed to hold the airplane’s attitude in order to slow the airplane to the desired airspeed. The flight instructor further described, “I was coaching the [pilot] on centerline and speed and neither of us realized that we had not completed the landing checklist.” During the landing flare, the flight instructor heard a metallic scraping sound, and began to abort the landing, about which time the pilot noted that the landing gear was not extended. After two attempts to increase engine power and climb, the flight instructor realized that the airplane was not controllable and decided to land on the grass next to the runway with the landing gear retracted. The airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged during the landing. The operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, nor did either of the flight crew report any, with the exception that neither crewmember recalled hearing the landing gear position warning system horn activate at any point. Maintenance personnel tested the system following the accident and noted no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80Y), registered now, S/N LM-79, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 65-A90-1 - Registry model: [Beech 65-A90-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-a90-1) (registry code 1152901) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-28-series) (registry code 52142, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LM-79 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 21534.2 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 680 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dynamic Aviation Group, Inc. - Registered owner: Dynamic Avlease Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 27, 2023 - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: W99, Grant County Airport, runway 31, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; 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 January 31, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,425 total, 328 in this make and model, 6,640 as pilot in command, 168 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,104 total, 720 in this make and model, 750 as pilot in command, 206 in the last 90 days, 86 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KCBE, 40 nm away - METAR: KCBE 181605Z AUTO 18006KT 10SM CLR 16/03 A3027 RMK AO2 T01610030 ## 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 20230518005649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230518005649A), May 18, 2023: Beech 65-A90-1, Petersburg, WV, Substantial damage. Aircraft was engaged in touch-and-go training at W99. On approach, landing gear was not extended. Aircraft landed gear-up and skidded off the runway. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=180446. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15721598&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N80Y%20NTSB%20Form%206120%20Signed-p_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - flight crew statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15722257&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-Flight%20Crew%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15722891&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - correspondence with operator (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15823339&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Email%20Operator%20Correspondence-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. --- 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.