# NTSB FTW96LA336: Beech E-55, N142P, Brownwood, TX, August 4, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 4, 1996, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Brownwood, TX
- Coordinates: 31.720155, -98.96981 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7202&lon=-98.9698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19937
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA336
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19937/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA336

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear.  Factors were the pilot's failure to use a checklist, his diverted attention, and the landing gear warning horn not sounding.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - checklist - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,gear warning system - inoperative (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was concentrating on practicing a 'close/precise pattern.'  The pilot did not look at the landing gear and flap levers, and he inadvertently added an extra notch of flaps instead of extending the landing gear during the base leg of the traffic pattern.  The pilot also reported that the landing gear warning horn did not sound. Both propellers, the belly of the airplane, and structural formers were bent in the wheels up landing.

## Factual narrative

On August 4, 1996, at 1030 central daylight time, a Beech E-55, N142P, owned and operated by a private owner, was substantially damaged during a wheels up landing near Brownwood, Texas.  The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight.  A flight plan was not filed for the cross country flight that originated near Del Rio, Texas, at 0900.

The pilot reported that he was flying in the traffic pattern at Brownwood Airport concentrating on practicing a "close/precise pattern."  The pilot did not look at the landing gear and flap levers, and he inadvertently added an extra notch of flaps instead of extending the landing gear during the base leg of the traffic pattern.  The pilot also reported that the landing gear warning horn did not sound.  Both propellers, the belly of the airplane, and structural formers were bent.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N142P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N142P-2019-03-08), registration cancelled 2019-03-08, S/N TE-1178 (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-1178
- Airframe hours: 3856
- Engines: Continental IO-520-CB8 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Braswell S. Locker, Jr
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 1995, 150 hours before
- Departed: DRT, DEL RIO, TX
- Destination: BWD
- Airport: BWD, Brownwood, runway 17, 5,598 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,028 total, 180 in this make and model, 3,028 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 17 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F

## 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 19960804025859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960804025859A), Aug 4, 1996: Beech E55, Brownwood, TX, Substantial damage. Landed gear up. Mismanaged gear used flap switch second time beleiving gear switch. (-23) on 08-04-96, at 10:30 am CDT, a Beech E-55, N142P, owned by s.b.…

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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