# NTSB MIA85IA156: Rockwell AC-500, N3836C, Palm Beach, FL, April 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 24, 1985, 14:17 local (19:17 UTC)
- Place: Palm Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 26.690011, -80.029968 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6900&lon=-80.0300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31287
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85IA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31287/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85IA156

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear not extended, landing - flare/touchdown
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

ON FINAL APCH, THE ACFT WAS ADVISED TWICE BY THE TOWER TO GO AROUND BECAUSE HIS LANDING GEAR WAS NOT EXTENDED, THE ACFT DID NOT RESPOND & LANDED GEAR UP ON RWY 13. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM AFTER THE OCCURRENCE REVEALED THE WARNING HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF SYSTEM FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION COULD BE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3836C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3836C), registered now, S/N 791 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL AC-500
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500) (registry code 0141102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 500-791
- Airframe hours: 59505
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540A2B 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Soul Turkey Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MYAT, TREASURE CAY, OF
- Destination: PBI, PALM BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PBI, Palm Beach Inter Nat'L, runway 13, 6,930 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,699 total, 970 in this make and model, 1,998 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19850424029599I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850424029599I), Apr 24, 1985: Gulstm 500RKWELL, West Palm Beach, FL, Minor damage. Landed gear up after being advised to go around by ATC due to gear position. Warning horn only malfunction found.

## Other investigations on N3836C (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 MIA93IA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93IA083), Mar 7, 1993: Aero Commander 500 (N3836C), Everglades City, FL, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: THE PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE PROPELLER HUB ARM IN THE BEARING RETENTION RADIUS DUE TO POLISHING AND WEAR OF THE RADIUS FROM CONTACT WITH THE SPLIT RINGS, RESULTING IN A PROPELLER BLADE…

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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