Beech F-90 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 12, 2000
On September 12, 2000 at about 9:37 pm local time, a Beech F-90, registered N15, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Anchorage International airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the right main landing gear drag leg (scissors) attach point, which resulted in the landing gear becoming jammed against the landing gear door during the extension cycle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2000 · about 9:37 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Anchorage International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F-90 · all F-90s on the register
- Registration
- N15 · no longer on the register · serial LA-138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a practice instrument approach to Kenai Municipal Airport, the airplane's landing gear was extended. The first pilot noted the gear extension seemed different from previous extensions, in that the gear seemed to "hang" momentarily before completing the extension cycle. Coincidental with the lowering of the landing gear, the right engine fire bottle discharge light illuminated. The pilot initiated a missed approach and returned to Anchorage. After arrival in the Anchorage area, the pilots attempted to lower the landing gear via normal extension procedures. The first pilot reported that the indicator light for the right main gear did not illuminate. After confirming that the right main gear was not down, he made numerous attempts to extend the landing gear via normal procedures and manual gear extension procedures. After determining that the right main landing gear could not be extended, the first pilot elected to perform a wheels-up landing to runway 14. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right landing gear upper and lower drag leg had separated as a unit from its attach point on the forward wing spar. The support bracket and rib assembly for the drag leg were still attached to the upper drag link. Two longitudinal formers located between the forward and aft spars were buckled. Black, tire-like, skid marks were noted on the inside surface of the landing gear door. The airplane was placed on jacks and the landing gear was functionally checked. During the extension sequence, it was noted that the right main gear tire jammed on the inside of the outboard landing gear door, preventing the gear from completing its extension cycle. The left main gear and nose gear completed the extension cycle and the two associated down indication lights illuminated.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,178 hours in all; 236 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 3,279 as pilot in command; 593 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,116 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 11, 2000; 109 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,030 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT-6A-135 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANC at 12:45 pm
- Destination: ANC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 10,496 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 126°F (52°C), dew point 100°F (38°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:42 pm from ANC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.