Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he had performed three takeoffs and landings without incident. During the fourth landing, he “flared the airplane at stall speed”. He “heard a noise under the fuselage even though the landing gear lever was engaged in the down position.” The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage structure during the landing. During a postaccident examination the landing gear extended and retracted normally. The landing gear position lights and the landing gear unsafe warning horn both functioned as designed. There were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN22LA183 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 21, 2022
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Wharton, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Wharton (ARM)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Beech 95-B55 (T42A)
- N-number
- N66NP
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1971
- 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.