Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear during the approach and landing.
NTSB analysis
The airline transport pilot and private pilot rated passenger departed on a local, personal flight. The pilot reported that he failed to extend the landing gear before landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage ribs and stringers. He said that the landing gear warning did not sound through the headsets, so the sound was faint and that the gear warning sounded like the stall warning, which was “confusing.” The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20CA363 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 22, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Athens, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Athens Municipal Airport (F44)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Beech 55
- N-number
- N1621W
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1972
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.