# NTSB FTW98LA148: Beech 58, N9239Q, Taos, NM, March 13, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 1998, 19:40 local (Mar 13, 1998, 02:40 UTC) - Place: Taos, NM - Coordinates: 36.600135, -105.449096 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6001&lon=-105.4491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20554/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA148 ## Probable cause The total failure of the landing gear retraction/extension assembly for reasons undetermined. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,total (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined - Wheels up landing, emergency landing - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot attempted to lower the landing gear in preparation for a normal landing. When he lowered the landing gear switch, the gear lock indicators failed to indicate the landing gear in the down-and-locked position. Manual extension of the landing gear was also unsuccessful. After circling the airport for approximately 20-30 minutes, he executed an emergency gear-up landing. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that the landing gear box had failed, causing the flaps attachment tracks to separate from the spar webbing, and the belly formers to be damaged. ## Factual narrative On March 12, 1998, at 1940 mountain standard time, a Beech 58, N9239Q, sustained substantial damage during a gear up landing at Taos Municipal Airport, Taos, New Mexico. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured, and there was no damage to other property. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Austin, Texas, at 1540 central standard time. According to the pilot's accident report, he attempted to lower the landing gear in preparation for a normal landing on runway 22. When he lowered the landing gear switch, the "gear lock indicators failed to indicate that the landing gear had been moved to the down-and-locked position. The switch was raised and lowered again but failed to lower the landing gear." He also attempted to lower the landing gear by manual extension, but was unsuccessful. After circling the airport for approximately 20-30 minutes, the pilot notified ground personnel of the situation and executed an emergency gear-up landing. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that the landing gear box had failed, causing the flaps attachment tracks to separate from the spar webbing, and the belly formers to be damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9239Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9239Q), registered now, S/N TH-139, built 1971 (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: TH139 - Airframe hours: 6005 - Engines: Continental IO520C5B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ican Enterprises, Inc., doing business as Ican Aviation - Registered owner: Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 30, 1998, 36 hours before - Departed: AUS, AUSTIN, TX - Destination: SKX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SKX, Taos Municipal, runway 22, 5,798 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 645 total, 56 in this make and model, 553 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SKX ## 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 19980312006839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980312006839A), Mar 12, 1998: Beech 58, Taos, NM, Substantial damage. On March 12, 1998, at 1940 mountain standard time, a Beech 58, N9239Q, sustained substantial damage during a gear up landing at Taos Municipal Airport, Taos,… 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.