Beech 95-C55 accident near Ozark, Arkansas, December 17, 2010
On December 17, 2010, a Beech 95-C55, registered N990W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Ozark, Arkansas (Ozark-Franklin County Airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 2010
- Place
- Ozark, Arkansas · Ozark-Franklin County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-C55 · all 95-C55s on the register
- Registration
- N990W · no longer on the register · serial TE-49
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while performing the landing checklist, he was certain he extended the landing gear. During the landing flare he felt the propellers impact the runway and immediately realized that the landing gear had not been extended. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage due to a postimpact fire. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident; he stated that he did not hear the gear horn due to his use of headsets.
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 not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear selector › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,320 hours in all; 620 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 2, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,341 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 2010
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO 520 CB3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor IO 520 CB3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KHDN Hayden CO at 9:00 pm
- Destination: Ozark AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,302 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.