BEECH 35-B33
Effingham, IL — October 11, 2014
Event Information
| Date | October 11, 2014 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN15CA011 |
| Event ID | 20141015X91845 |
| Location | Effingham, IL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 39.07056, -88.53361 |
| Airport | Effingham County Memorial |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | BEECH |
| Model | 35-B33 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that 30 minutes after departure at 6,000 feet mean sea level, the airplane's door opened in flight. He stated that the temperature dropped, papers went flying about the cabin, and the noise was 'overwhelming.' The passenger tried to hold the door shut, but could not secured it. The pilot diverted to a nearby airport for landing. The pilot stated that he "simply forgot to put the gear down." The airplane touched down and skidded on its belly resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's stringers, formers, and main spar carry through. The pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.