Beech 65-A90 accident near Dekalb, Illinois, March 2, 2010
On March 2, 2010 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Beech 65-A90, registered N129LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Dekalb, Illinois (De Kalb Taylor Municipal Airpo airport). It was a flight test 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 collapse of the landing gear during landing due to the company's improper maintenance practices and the pilot's decision to take off with an overextended landing gear strut.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2010 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Dekalb, Illinois · De Kalb Taylor Municipal Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 65-A90 · all 65-A90s on the register
- Registration
- N129LA · registry record · serial LJ-129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Beech King Air had undergone maintenance that included a landing gear disassembly and inspection in preparation for the airplane's sale. Following the landing gear inspection, the left main landing gear strut was overfilled to an extension that exceeded maintenance specifications due to the strut not being able to maintain the manufacturer's specified pressure/extension. In preparation for a maintenance test flight relating to engine throttle adjustments, an asymmetric left fuel load was used by the pilot in an attempt to compress the overextended strut at an airplane weight that was less than the maximum gross weight of the airplane. Upon completion of the flight, the pilot returned to the departure airport where he attempted a landing with a left quartering tailwind and with the airplane flaps fully retracted. The airplane touched down between the runway centerline and right side of the runway. The left main landing gear then collapsed, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. The pilot, who was the also the president of the company that performed the landing gear inspection and other maintenance items, reported that the landing gear was a Beech Queen Air part. Examination of the left main landing gear cylinder revealed that it separated at the lower joint above the upper torque knee. The joint exhibited corrosion and paint on its mating surface. The braze coverage in this area was noted to be acceptable with no anomalous voids. The separation was consistent with torsional overload. The examination also revealed that the landing gear shock assembly was a Beech Queen Air part that was not approved for installation on Beech King Air airplanes.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,100 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 22, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,792 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 6, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 9,650 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eagle Air Transport
The flight
- Departed from: DKB Dekalb IL at 7:30 pm
- Destination: DKB Dekalb IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 4,201 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 7:43 pm from DKB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.