Beech 95B55 accident near Sanford, Florida, July 19, 2019
On July 19, 2019 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 1969 Beech 95B55, registered N386Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sanford, Florida (Orlando Sanford Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2019 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Florida · Orlando Sanford Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 95B55 UNDESIGNAT, built 1969 · all 95B55s on the register
- Registration
- N386Q · no longer on the register · serial TC-1238
- 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, during an approach to land he said he extended the landing gear. He said that it According to the pilot, during an approach to land, he extended the landing gear. He said that it was hard to see if the landing gear indicator light was illuminated, but he said that he observed "one green." Surveillance video showed the airplane on short final with the landing gear in the up and locked position; before touchdown, video showed the airplane’s landing flare with the landing gear stowed. During landing, the pilot heard the noise of the propellers striking the ground and pulled back on the yoke to allow the airplane to slide to a stop. Flames came from the underside of the airplane, and the airport fire department extinguished the fire. Examination of the airplane revealed that the inboard right and left wing was substantially damaged by the fire. The airplane was raised from the runway and the landing gear was manually extended from the up and locked position. During a gear retraction and extension test, the landing gear operated normally, and no landing gear anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. Given this information, it is likely that the pilot failed to extend the airplane's landing gear before touchdown on the runway.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 898 hours in all; 720 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,512 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SFB Sanford FL at 4:00 pm
- Destination: SFB Sanford FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09R, 5,839 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from SFB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 10, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando Airport Aircraft Emergency Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum of Record FAA Telephone Correspondence | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot's Logbook Page Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.