# NTSB ERA25LA094: Beech 58, N458K, Florence, SC, December 27, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 27, 2024, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Florence, SC · Runway 9 at FLO - Coordinates: 34.18673, -79.718722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1867&lon=-79.7187&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: 6 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): 199523 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199523/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199523 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA094 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to follow the emergency procedures and extend the landing gear manually after the landing gear did not initially extend normally. ## 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: [Beech 58, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [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 58, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1152740), [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 58, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=1152740), [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: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 58, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1152740), [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 58, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR final approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Beech 58, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1152740), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was on a return, cross country flight to his home airport in instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that he first performed a non-precision approach into the airport, where he reported that the landing gear extended normally. After performing a missed approach, the pilot retracted the landing gear and he then performed a precision approach in the opposite direction. The pilot reported that he put the landing gear switch in the down position, but that the landing gear did not extend. The pilot elected to continue the approach without troubleshooting, extending the gear manually, or referring to the emergency checklist. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane on the runway with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. After the accident, the pilot performed an operational check and troubleshooting of the landing gear without authorization. The pilot reported that the landing gear again failed to extend, but would retract during his testing. The pilot also reported that the manual landing gear extension system operated normally. During the testing, the pilot said he found an “open circuit of the gear relay due to moisture or foreign debris.” After troubleshooting, the pilot reported that the landing gear started to operate normally. After the pilot had performed the unauthorized troubleshooting, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the landing gear system, and performed a functional test, during which he found that it operated normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N458K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N458K), registered now, S/N TH-452, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 58 - Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TH-452 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 7438 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-520-C7B 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental Motors IO-520-C7B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 2024, 15 hours before - Departed: BKW, Beckley, WV - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FLO, Florence Rgnl, runway 09, 6,502 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,275 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 7,275 as pilot in command, 10.5 in the last 90 days, 12.1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KFLO - METAR: KFLO 272342Z 03007KT 2SM -RA BR OVC003 09/08 A3028 RMK AO2 P0001 T00890078 ## 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 20241227019849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241227019849A), Dec 27, 2024: Beech 58, Florence, SC, Substantial damage. On 12/27/2024 approximately 1630 hours pilot did a missed approach and go around into Florence reginal airport (flo). During final approach pilot-initiated… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199523. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18514268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N458K%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - pilot interview (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18514401&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - FAA pilot interview (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18513432&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR%20-%20Conversation%20with%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Operator's manual excerpt - emergency procedures - manual landing gear extension (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18514066&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Landing%20Gear%20Manual%20Extension-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - description of FAA landing gear test video (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18536593&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Gear%20Extension%20and%20Retraction%20Video-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.