# NTSB MIA84LA046: Beech 35, N444D, Lake City, FL, December 15, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 15, 1983, 14:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place: Lake City, FL
- Coordinates: 30.13097, -82.959724 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1310&lon=-82.9597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31068
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84LA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31068/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84LA046

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,partial (cause)
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,partial (cause)
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PLT LANDED WITH THE NOSE GEAR PARTIALLY EXTENDED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HEARD A CRACK WHILE THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTING AFTER TAKEOFF. HE PUT THE GEAR HANDLE BACK DOWN AND CONTINUED TO LAKE CITY. AFTER FLYING SEVERAL LOW PASSES, THE CONTROL TOWER CONFIRMED THAT THE NOSE GEAR WAS ONLY PARTIALLY EXTENDED. ALL EFFORTS TO EXTEND THE GEAR FAILED AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLPASED DURING LANDING ROLL. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL CONFIRMED THAT THE EXTENSION SYSTEM HAD FAILED PREVENTING NORMAL EXTENSION OF THE NOSE GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N444D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N444D-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N D-586, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35
- Registry model: [Beech 35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35) (registry code 1151502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 586
- Airframe hours: 3300
- Engines: CONTINENTAL E-185 185 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Walter C. Adams
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 1983, 125 hours before
- Departed: FL10, MCALPIN, FL
- Airport: 31J, Lake City, runway 5, 6,005 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 900 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Observed at: GNV, 34 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 19831215070819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831215070819A), Dec 15, 1983: Beech 35BEECH, Lake City, FL, Substantial damage. Nose wheel collapsed during landing. Failure of landing gear extension system caused collapse.

## Other investigations on N444D (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 FTW00LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA038), Nov 28, 1999: Beech BE35 (N444D), Stillwater, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to the dry-rotted diaphragms in the pressure carburetor. A factor was the hilly terrain encountered during the forced landing.

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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