MIA99LA020

The pilot was making an instrument approach and failed to ensure the landing gear was down. The airplane was landed gear up. Examination of the landing gear assembly revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.

On October 19, 1998, about 1130 central daylight time, a Beech BE-58, N31CE, registered to Paragon Air Express Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight, experienced a total loss of radio communications upon departure from Jackson International Airport, Jackson Mississippi. The pilot diverted back into Jackson, and the landing gear collapsed on landing rollout. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was initially reported to have sustained minor damage. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated 1 hour before the accident. The damage was upgraded to an accident on October 30, 1998.

The pilot stated after losing all radio communication on climbout that he intercepted the DME arc for runway 34 left. He stated he cycled the landing gear and verified the landing gear was down with the green lights. When he started his flare the gear warning went off. The propeller and the airplane collided with the runway.

The pilot stated in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, "On the ILS to 34L at the glide slope intercept I selected the gear handle down. The gear never went completely down so the gear did not go down. I failed to realize this despite the gear horn sounding. A subsequent gear-up landing occurred with no injury to myself or anybody else."

Examination of the landing gear assembly by the FAA revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. The airplane was jacked up at a repair facility. The landing gear was cycled three times with normal electrical power. All warning horns and lights functioned properly.