# NTSB LAX05CA304: Beech 95-B55, N127F, Porterville, CA, September 15, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 15, 2005, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Porterville, CA
- Coordinates: 36.038055, -119.071388
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0381&lon=-119.0714&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62514
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA304
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62514/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA304

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - habit interference, pilot in command
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot failed to extend the landing gear prior to landing and ribs were damaged in the belly section of the airplane.  He initially entered the landing pattern for runway 12, which was the active runway in use.  After the pilot was established in the pattern, the wind changed and an airplane departed runway 30.  The pilot decided to change his landing pattern and crossed midfield where he entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 30.  Upon entering the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 30, the pilot retracted the landing gear to decrease the required engine performance for the airplane.  The pilot turned base and then final while extending the flaps and failed to lower the landing gear prior to landing on the runway.  No mechanical anomalies were reported.

## Factual narrative

On September 15, 2005, at 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 95-B55 (Baron), N127F, landed with the gear retracted at Porterville Municipal Airport, Porterville, California.  The airplane was registered to a private company and was being operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to ribs in the fuselage belly.  The pilot departed from Big Piney - Marbleton Airport, Big Piney, Wyoming, at 0700, and was landing at his destination when the accident occurred.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he entered the landing pattern for runway 12, which was the active runway in use.  After the pilot was established in the pattern, the wind changed and an airplane departed runway 30.  The pilot decided to change his landing pattern for runway 30 and crossed midfield where he entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 30.  Upon entering the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 30, the pilot retracted the landing gear to decrease the required engine performance for the airplane.  The pilot turned base and then final while extending the flaps and failed to lower the landing gear.  He stated that he landed the airplane with the landing gear in the retracted position.  No mechanical anomalies were reported.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N127F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N127F), registered now, S/N TC-869, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech 95-B55
- 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-869
- Engines: Continental IO-470L reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Curtis Norton
- Registered owner: Team Casing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BPI, Big Piney, WY
- Destination: PTV, Porterville, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PTV, Porterville, runway 30, 5,908 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 815 total, 337 in this make and model, 63 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: PTV

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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