# NTSB ERA24LA049: Beech A36, N94EM, Valdosta, GA, November 26, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 26, 2023, 08:35 local (13:35 UTC) - Place: Valdosta, GA · VLD Airport - Coordinates: 30.775497, -83.272333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7755&lon=-83.2723&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 193428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193428/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193428 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA049 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear 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 A36, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1151604), [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: [Beech A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that during the landing flare he realized that he forgot to extend the landing gear and determined it was too late to go around. The underside of the airplane’s fuselage settled onto the runway and skidded down the asphalt, resulting in substantial damage to the structure of the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane. The airplane was equipped with a landing gear position warning horn that was designed to sound when the throttle lever was pulled back for landing. The pilot reported that he did not specifically remember hearing the warning horn during the landing flare; however, he stated he might have mistaken the landing gear warning horn for the stall warning horn as he was expecting to hear the stall warning during the landing flare. The pilot reported that when he went back to the airplane after the accident and powered up the airplane’s electrical system, the landing gear warning horn operated normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94EM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94EM), registered now, S/N E-2011, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2011 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 6834.41 - Engines: Continental Aerospace Technologies IO-550-B6A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Skyclub A36 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2023, 167.59 hours before - Departed: PDK, Chamblee, GA - Destination: VLD, Valdosta, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: VLD, Valdosta Rgnl, runway 17/35, 8,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,147 total, 692 in this make and model, 5,049 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KVLD - METAR: KVLD 261253Z 14005KT 7SM -RA SCT060 BKN075 OVC095 13/11 A3009 RMK AO2 RAB1154 SLP199 P0003 T01280111 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20231126020569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231126020569I), Nov 26, 2023: Beech A36, Valdosta, GA, Minor damage. The pilot failed to follow the landing checklist, resulting in a gear-up landing. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193428. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16424018&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB%20Pilot%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16423081&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20MOR%20Pilot%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16423865&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20METAR-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16431473&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Photo%20Array%20Template-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.