# NTSB GAA18CA251: Beech 95 B55, N4464S, Suffolk, VA, April 17, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 16, 2018, 21:30 local (Apr 17, 2018, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Suffolk, VA - Coordinates: 36.682777, -76.599723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6828&lon=-76.5997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97167 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97167/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97167 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA251 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly secure the portable GPS and antenna cable, which resulted in the inadvertent landing gear retraction during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/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) - [Equipment/furnishings](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022500): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022500/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); 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 roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); 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 in the retractable-landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, during the flight, his GPS had fallen from its mount and that the antenna cable became wrapped around the landing gear switch. Before landing, the pilot applied aft pressure to the yoke to enter the flare, and the antenna cable moved the landing gear switch to the retract position. The airplane landed with the landing gear retracted and skidded to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage longerons and stringers and the wing-spar carry-through. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that during the flight, his GPS had fallen from its mount and the antenna cable became wrapped around the landing gear switch. Prior to landing, the pilot applied aft pressure to the yoke to enter the flare and the antenna cable moved the landing gear switch to the retract position. The airplane landed with the landing gear retracted and skidded to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage longerons and stringers, and the wing-spar carry through. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4464S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4464S-2019-06-12), registration cancelled 2019-06-12, S/N TC-1878, built 1975 (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 IO-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-470-series) (registry code 17044, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-1878 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 8042.6 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470 L 260 horsepower reciprocating; CONTINENTAL IO-470 L 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Moosehead Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Moosehead Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 2017 - Departed: ISM, ORLANDO, FL - Destination: SFQ, Suffolk, VA - Airport: SFQ, Suffolk Executive, runway 25, 3,750 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2007; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 26,200 total, 530 in this make and model, 25,550 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.65 inHg - Observed at: KSFQ ## 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 20180416000229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180416000229A), Apr 16, 2018: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), Suffolk, VA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated he flew a normal traffic pattern into Suffolk Executive Airport (sfq). He extended the landing gear on the downwind leg and confirmed the gear… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97167. 41.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Video of Inadvertent Landing Gear Switch Retraction (item 2, MOV, 38.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466722&FileExtension=mov&FileName=Video%20of%20Inadvertent%20Landing%20Gear%20Switch%20Retraction-Master - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.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.