# NTSB ERA24LA193: Beech E-55, N333HE, Greenville, SC, April 24, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 24, 2024, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Greenville, SC
- Coordinates: 34.758312, -82.376413 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7583&lon=-82.3764&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: 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): 194149
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA193
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194149/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194149
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA193

## 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.

- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech E-55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1152732), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: gear position and warning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech E-55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/cases.md?model=1152732), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/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 E-55, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1152732), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After an instrument flight rules cross-country flight, the pilot received multiple radar vectors from air traffic control for traffic and after mis-identifying the destination airport for a visual approach. He then had difficulty identifying the runway while looking toward the setting sun and setting up the GPS to identify a 2-mile final approach to the runway. On final approach, he was paying close attention to departing traffic on the landing runway and stated that he configured the airplane for landing but neglected to lower the landing gear. He heard the landing gear position warning horn and realized that he had forgotten to extend the landing gear when the airplane settled onto the runway. The airplane skidded down the asphalt, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N333HE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333HE-2025-05-27), registration cancelled 2025-05-27, S/N TE-1068, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E-55
- Registry model: [Beech E-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e-55) (registry code 1152732) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-1068
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 3285
- Engines: Continental IO-520 series 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-520 series 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hollman Aircraft Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TRI, Kingsport, TN
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GYH, Donaldson Fld, runway 23, 8,000 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 961 total, 48 in this make and model, 890 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: GYH
- METAR: KGYH 242200Z 25013KT 10SM BKN055 22/11 A3002 RMK ACFT INCIDENT

## 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 20240424003809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240424003809A), Apr 24, 2024: Beech E-55, Greenville, SC, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Landed with the landing gear retracted.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194149. 4.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17191082&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA193%206120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 8 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17190328&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA193%20Photo%20Array-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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