Beech 58 accident near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, February 7, 2013
On February 7, 2013 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N458P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Smith Reynolds Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 left main landing gear to fully extend due to improper rigging by maintenance personnel during a maintenance check.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2013 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina · Smith Reynolds Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N458P · no longer on the register · serial TH119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While performing an instrument landing system approach, the pilot lowered the landing gear and confirmed that it was extended by observing the cockpit gear indication. Immediately after landing, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered to the left. After departing the side of the runway, the airplane struck a taxiway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the main gear rigging showed that the emergency gear handle was able to rotate one full turn before hitting the internal stops. However, the Beech Aircraft Maintenance Manual states that there should only be 1/8- to 1/4-turn between the gear handle extended position and the internal stop during rigging checks. According to the manual, there are no down-position locks and, therefore, over-center tension is the only down-locking system. Therefore, the improper rigging of the landing gear during a maintenance check did not provide adequate down tension and prevented the landing gear from fully extending.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Malfunction
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,011 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 935 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 20, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,690 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 2012; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HAO Hamilton OH at 2:55 pm
- Destination: INT Winston Salem NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 6,655 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; ovct at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from INT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.