# NTSB NYC85LA236: Beech BE-55, N6429S, Danbury, CT, September 15, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1985, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Danbury, CT
- Location: 41.3715° N, 73.4822° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DANBURY MUNI (DXR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3715&lon=-73.4822&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35965
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA236
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35965/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA236

## Sequence of events

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

- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - failure,total
  - landing gear - undetermined (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT ON TOUCHDOWN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND NOSE GEAR. THE ACFT SLID APRX 600 TO 700 FT BEFORE STOPPING. ACCORDING TO THE PLT HE CONFIRMED THE GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED WHILE ON BASE. A GEAR CYCLE TEST PERFORMED ON THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6429S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH BE-55
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-1073
- Airframe hours: 1034
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Blue Bird Aviation
- Registered owner: Ff Aircraft Leasing Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 12, 1985, 5 hours before
- Departed: MT. POCONO, PA
- Destination: DXR, DANBURY, CT
- Airport: DXR, Danbury Municipal, runway 35, 3,137 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,441 total, 823 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DXR

## 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 19850915071709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850915071709A), Sep 15, 1985: Beech E55, Danbury, CT, Substantial damage. Possible inadvertent retraction by pilot as gear collapsed on touchdown. Damage to gear not noted.

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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