# NTSB MIA96LA224: Beech 58, N4478W, Panama City, FL, August 6, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1996, 09:21 local (14:21 UTC)
- Place: Panama City, FL
- Coordinates: 30.200334, -85.670166 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2003&lon=-85.6702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 29, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38082
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA224
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38082/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA224

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to extend the landing gear before touchdown, which resulted in an inadvertent wheels-up landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot allowed his attention to be diverted, and the resultant interference with his landing routine (habit pattern).

## Sequence of events

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

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

## Analysis

The pilot stated that during an approach to land, he became preoccupied with hold short instructions and traffic advisories. He indicated that this preoccupation led him to deviate from his landing routine, which resulted in a failure to lower the landing gear. Subsequently, the airplane landed gear-up, and was damaged.

## Factual narrative

On August 6, 1996, about 0921 central daylight time, a Beech 58, N4478W, registered to Maddox Enterprises, Inc., was landed gear-up at the Panama City-Bay County International Airport, Panama City, Florida.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight originated about 0800 from the Walker County-Bevill Field Airport, Jasper, Alabama.

The pilot stated that the flight was cleared to land runway 14, hold short of runway 5.  He further stated that he became pre-occupied by the hold short instructions and traffic advisories, and landed gear-up.  He further stated that he did not hear the landing gear warning horn when he reduced the power to land.  No determination was made as to whether the gear warning was operational.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4478W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Beech 58
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TH446
- Airframe hours: 4453
- Engines: Continental IO-520-C7B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert F. Maddox
- Registered owner: Maddox Enterprises, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1996, 20 hours before
- Departed: JFX, JASPER, AL
- Destination: PFN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PFN, Panama City-Bay County In, runway 14, 6,314 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,874 total, 1,250 in this make and model, 1,768 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PFN

## 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 19960806044489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960806044489A), Aug 6, 1996: Beech 58, Panama City, FL, Substantial damage. Failed to extend landing gear for landing. Blamed distraction to ATC advice to hold short of a runway intersection.

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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