# NTSB ERA25LA343: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), N8313N, St. Petersburg, FL, August 20, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 20, 2025, 09:24 local (13:24 UTC) - Place: St. Petersburg, FL - Coordinates: 27.765114, -82.62694 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7651&lon=-82.6269&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 December 18, 2025 - 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): 200984 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200984/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200984 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA343 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing. Contributing to the accident was a malfunction of the landing gear’s electrical retraction/extension system, which tripped the circuit breaker. ## 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 · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [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 95-B55 (T42A), 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152706), [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 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the multi-engine airplane departed from the airplane’s home airport on a cross-country flight. The pilot stated that the takeoff and initial climb were normal; however, shortly after departure, he noted that the alternators went offline and the battery began to discharge. The pilot attempted to restore the alternators by resetting the switches and field circuit breakers. Unable to regain alternator functionality, the pilot elected to abort the flight and return to the departure airport. The pilot reported that he attempted to extend the landing gear and heard the gear motor operate. During the return to the airport, the pilot reported additional electrical issues, such as the airplane’s primary flight display turning off and rebooting. While on final approach to the airport, the pilot reported that the landing gear down and locked light was not illuminated; however, the mechanical tab on the floorboard indicated the landing gear was down. Upon touchdown, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded down the runway to a stop resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Surveillance images of the airplane as it was on final approach revealed that the nose landing gear was not extended and the main landing gear appeared to be at least partially extended. Had the pilot coordinated with the control tower to observe the landing gear position, it is possible that they would have been able to alert the pilot that all of the landing gear were not fully extended. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear motor circuit breaker had tripped and that the landing gear was capable of being extended and locked in place using the emergency extension system. The examination also revealed that both alternator belts were in place on the alternators, and the battery had sufficient voltage to operate the airplane’s electrical system. Since the landing gear was able to be extended using the emergency extension system, it is likely that the landing gear circuit breaker had tripped due to an electrical wiring issue or an issue with the landing gear motor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8313N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8313N), registered now, S/N TC-1070, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 95-B55 (T42A) - 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-1070 - Year built: 1968 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: St Pete Aviation Services LLC - Registered owner: St Pete Aviation Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: PGD, Punta Gorda, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted, runway 07, 3,676 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, unknown; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,576 total, 12 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KSPG - METAR: METAR KSPG 201455Z 03005KT 10SM FEW025 31/27 A2988= ## 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 20250820013259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250820013259A), Aug 20, 2025: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, a Beech 95-B55 (T42A), registered as [privacy data omitted], serial number TC-1070, was involved in an accident at Albert… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200984. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19631705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSBForm6120.1_N8313N_Walker_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - airplane recovery and examination (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19631808&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20DOM-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19631609&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.