# NTSB LAX06CA160: Beech C24R, N2074P, Sacramento, CA, April 29, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 29, 2006, 13:09 local (20:09 UTC) - Place: Sacramento, CA - Coordinates: 38.668609, -121.400833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6686&lon=-121.4008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63636 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63636/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA160 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to complete and verify the prelanding checklist and extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear up landing. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention during the approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - checklist - not used, pilot in command (cause) - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - gear down and locked - not verified, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted. The pilot entered the traffic pattern at his destination airport and heard a transmission from an airplane that was making an intersection takeoff. He looked down and noted the location of the airplane. When he looked back into the cockpit he saw that the airspeed was in the flap operating range, and lowered the flaps to 15 degrees. During final approach he did not retard the throttle to idle and so the landing gear warning horn did not sound. He proceeded with the landing and did not realize that the landing gear was not extended until the propeller struck the runway. The pilot stated that while looking for the departing airplane he had become distracted, did not use his checklist, and forgot to lower the landing gear. He further reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions noted with airplane or engine. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2006, about 1309 Pacific daylight time, a Beech C24R, N2074P, landed with the gear retracted at Mc Clellan Airfield, Sacramento, California. The owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight departed Sacramento Executive Airport, Sacramento, about 1300, with a planned destination of Mc Clellan Airfield. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot submitted a written statement. As he was entering the traffic pattern he heard a transmission from a Cessna that was making an intersection takeoff. He looked down and noted the departing airplane's location. When he looked back into the cockpit, he verified that he was within flap operating range, and lowered the flaps to 15 degrees. He reported that he was on downwind for landing on runway 16. He began a slow descent from pattern altitude and reported the base leg turn. He placed the flaps full down while making his turn onto final, and radioed that he was on final. The pilot stated that he did not retard the throttle to idle, and that the landing gear warning horn did not sound. He proceeded with the landing and did not realize that the landing gear was not down until the propeller started "banging on the runway." He made a radio call warning other aircraft in the area that he had made a gear up landing. He shut the airplane down and then noticed a little smoke coming from the right side of the cockpit. He took off his seatbelt, opened the left door, and climbed out of the airplane. He used his cell phone to call Mc Clellan Jet Services, and they notified him that the fire department was en route to his location. A sling lifted the airplane, and the landing gear was manually extended using the landing gear handle inside the cockpit. The airplane was then towed to the Mc Clellan Jet Services hangar. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge interviewed the pilot, who stated that he had become distracted while looking for the departing airplane, did not use his checklist, and forgot to lower the landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2074P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2074P-2019-02-07), registration cancelled 2019-02-07, S/N MC-608, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech C24R - Registry model: [Beech C24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c24r) (registry code 1151254) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MC608 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard B. Manning - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SAC, Sacramento, CA - Destination: MCC, Sacramento, CA - Airport: MCC, McClellan Airfield, runway 16, 10,600 × 200 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 684 total, 134 in this make and model, 524 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: SMF, 10 nm away ## 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 20060429008019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060429008019A), Apr 29, 2006: Beech C24R, Sacramento, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was landing aircraft when he was distracted and failed to lower the landing gear. ## Other investigations on N2074P (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA16FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA075), Dec 20, 2015: Beech C24R (N2074P), Winder, GA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the examination of the wreckage did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. 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.